The 12th East Sea international conference takes place in Hanoi on November 16-17 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The disputes in the East Sea (South China Sea) need to beresolved by the concerned parties, with cooperation of the internationalcommunity as well as the region, said a Vietnamese expert.
Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thao, Second Vice Chairman of the UN International LawCommission, made the statement on the sidelines of the12th South China Sea International Conference, themed "Maintaining Peace and Cooperation through a Time of Turbulence", which took place onNovember 16 in both the in-person and online formats.
Jointly held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), the Foundation forEast Sea Studies (FESS), and the Vietnam Lawyers' Association, the two-dayconference attracted over 700 delegates, including nearly 60 prestigiousexperts from 30 nations, 12 ambassadors and representatives from over 20foreign representative offices in Vietnam, and nearly 100 domestic and foreignjournalists.
Hesaid in both the 36th and 37th ASEAN Summits, leadersagreed that the only and consistent legal basis to resolve the East Sea issueis the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). Heexpressed his hope that all countries will accelerate the negotiation andenactment of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), which regulates allmaritime behaviours among the parties involved for a peaceful, stable andprosperous East Sea region.
Mentioning a series of debates regarding more than 30 East Sea-related notes atthe United Nations, Thao said that the situation in the East Sea has changed alot since Malaysia submitted its extended continental shelf limits in the EastSea to the the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf inDecember 2019.
The ambassador said that the submission of notes on the East Sea by countriesoutside the region is a change of perception of the international community."I think that the world will need to recognise the role of UNCLOS 1982 andcountries will come together to find solutions to the East Sea issues," headded.
Thao expressedhis belief that despite many disagreements, with solidarity in ASEAN as well asawareness of international law, a tool for dispute settlement, the parties willgradually approach a solution that is acceptable to all.
Assessing the East Sea situation in the current context, Dr. Tran Cong Truc,former head of the Government Border Committee, said that the East Sea nowbecomes an international issue as countries have raised their voices by notonly diplomatic statements and bilateral notes but also notes sent to the UNbodies. Notably, in those notes, for the first time, countries have mentioned thecompliance with UNCLOS 1982.
"This is very important, because it clearly shows that Vietnam and othercountries have the same view regarding the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa(Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) which China calls Xisha and Nansha, and theirentities,” he said. According to UNCLOS 1982, it is impossible to build,establish or announce the baseline as an archipelagic state. It is completelycontrary to the Convention.
China’s"nine-dash line" claim is completely illegal and contrary to theprovisions of UNCLOS 1982, policies on external affairs and protection of thelegal rights of countries in the East Sea, he noted.
Regarding the COC negotiation process, Truc said it has seen progress in termsof procedure. As the East Sea issue relates to not only ASEAN and China butalso many other countries in the region and the world, the parties need to determinethe subjects of the COC and its scope of adjustment. Therefore, it will take along time to finalise the COC.
According to Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of ForeignAffairs, ASEAN's principles on the East Sea issue are peace, stability,security, safety and freedom of navigation. This is a very important for theregion. All countries inside and outside the region have common interests inthis region.
There are overlaps and disputes over sovereignty claims between the concerned parties,he said, stressing that the settlement of these disputes must be done bypeaceful means, consultation and dialogue based on international law and UNCLOS1982.
Theambassador also said that violations affecting peace and stability in the EastSea are those of common interest. Therefore, countries inside and outside theregion must raise their voices on this issue.
"Any acts that infringe on the continental shelf and exclusive rights ofcoastal states according to international law must be opposed. Not only those affected but also the whole ASEAN need to raise opposition,” he said./.
