The workshop was held on October 30 (Photo:VNA) An international workshop seeking peaceful solutions to the East Sea dispute opened in the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Busan on October 30.
The event, the fifth of its kind, attracted around 80 scholars, experts and distinguished guests. It was organised by the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (IOST), the Korean Association of People Loving Vietnam, the Korean Association of International Maritime Law, Youngsan University’s Research Institute for Maritime Law and the Institute for Vietnamese Studies.
In his speech, President of the IOST’s Maritime Policy Association Kwon Moon-sang underscored countries’ claims over sea and island sovereignty, and jurisdiction rights based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law.
With two sessions, the workshop participants discussed settling the East Sea dispute peacefully, and the significance of applying international law to the issues of peace and security in the East Sea.
Participants shared the view that China’s “nine-dotted line” claim was historically and legally groundless, and that its construction of artificial islands had threatened stability in the region.
They stressed the need for a prompt signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea and the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in ensuring regional security.
Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents, Prof. Jeong Gap-yong from Youngsan University’s Research Institute for Maritime Law urged the RoK administration to create a clearer and more transparent stance on the East Sea issue, unless China decided to abide by international law on the sea.
According to Jeong, 30 percent of the RoK’s exports and 90 percent of its imported materials crossed through the East Sea.-VNA
