Dozens of fishing vessels dock in the shelter area of Vietnam's Da Tay A Reef (Photo: VNA) In an interview withthe Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent, the expert said that the PCA’s ruling,issued on July 12, 2016, strongly refuted China’s groundless claims in the EastSea.
He believed that theverdict clarifies various matters in disputes in the East Sea, and has beenrecognised by a majority of the international community. To prevent ongoingviolations in the East Sea, the international community needs to stronglysupport the ruling and asked the violator to comply with it.
Regarding the EuropeanUnion (EU)’s viewpoint on disputes in the East Sea, Will said that the EU andits leading members consider Indo-Pacific an important region in terms ofeconomy, and pay due attention to regional politics and security.
Spokeswoman of the VietnameseMinistry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on July 12 affirmed that Vietnam’sstance on the settlement of disputes in the East Sea is clear and consistent.
Vietnam always backsthe settlement of disputes regarding sovereignty, sovereign rights andjurisdiction in the East Sea through diplomatic and legal processes, without usingforce or threatening to use force, and by peaceful solutions and measures, inaccordance with the UN Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).
As a UNCLOS signatoryand a coastal nation to the East Sea, Vietnam called on all concerned partiesto respect and fully realise their legal obligations as stipulated in theconvention, cooperate and actively and pragmatically contribute to maintainingpeace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, andorder in the East Sea in line with international law, Hang said./.
VNA
