Delegates discuss at the ninth East Sea International Conference (Source: VNA)At the event, participating scholars agreedthat in 2017, the East Sea situation was calm, but there remains risk ofdisorder and conflict in the waters.
Differences in countries’ standpoints and consciousnessof history and developments in the field and the fact that international law isnot fully obeyed make disputes in the sea complex.
Along with traditional challenges, thesituation is getting more complicated due to the development of issues such asclimate change, terrorism, crime at sea, and the exhaustion of naturalresources.
Participants affirmed that international lawremains an essential foundation to maintain world order for common prosperity,although the law is not completed yet or is interpreted in different waysdepending on each country’s interests.
They suggested the countries involved focuson building and reaching a consensus on interpretation to promote peace andcooperation at sea, instead of finding ways to take advantage of legalloopholes.
The countries which have interests in theEast Sea like the US, China, Japan, India and Australia, and ASEAN should takebigger roles in the region, while all countries in the region and the worldshould take responsibility for upholding for international law through theenforcement of tribunals’ rulings, they added.
Adjusting maritime activities towards turningchallenges arising from these activities into opportunities for countries tointensify cooperation and boost development was also discussed by the scholars.
[HCM City int’l conference highlights cooperation on East Sea]
They proposed the countries establishmechanisms for cooperation in less sensitive areas such as environmentalprotection, pirate fighting, and training for law enforcement forces at sea.In the field of fishing, the countries needto build strategic trust and cooperate to define the season unsuitable forfishing, ban illegal fishing, and be responsible for monitoring their fishingvessels.
Scholars agreed that cooperation inpreventing trans-national crime at sea and the enforcement of regulations ofthe United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Conventionfor the Safety of Life at Sea of the International Maritime Organisation playan important role in reducing conflicts at sea.
During the conference, scholars alsodiscussed the future of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
They recommended focusing on stipulatingprinciples of not using violence or threatening to use violence, maintaining thestatus quo and self-restraint, as well as legal foundations for cooperativeactivities, the lists of activities which are encouraged and not allowed in theEast Sea, and codes of conduct for several fields such as fishery, marineenvironmental protection and maritime safety in accordance with internationallaw and the UNCLOS.
The East Sea is one of the world’s mostimportant shipping lanes and benefits many countries. Therefore, maintainingpeace, stability, navigation and over flight securit and freedom in the sea isthe top priority.
The parties concerned should displayresponsibility in abiding by international law in the East Sea. Every extremereaction or activities defying international law will fuel tensions andcomplicate the situation.
In recent years, the East Sea issue has attracted much attentionfrom the international community.
The ninth East Sea International Conference took place in Ho Chi Minh City onNovember 27-28, with seven working sessions focusing on the theme “Cooperationfor Regional Security and Development”.
The event was part of efforts to contribute to boostinternational cooperation for peace and stability in the East Sea.-VNA
VNA
