Int’l scholars highlight UNCLOS’s role in ensuring peace, stability in East Sea

At the event (Photo courtesy of the organisers)

Kiev (VNA) – An international seminar on the prospect of and solutions to maritime law enforcement in the East Sea was held in Ukraine on July 12.

The event, held in both online and in-person forms, saw the participation of over 25 experts and scholars from Ukraine, the US, the UK, Greece, Panama and some others nations.

Reports presented at the seminar affirmed that the East Sea is an extremely important international shipping route. Given that over 25 percent of the global freight volume is transported via this route each year, mechanisms to ensure peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the region are highly needed.

Delegates underlined the necessity to resolve disputes in the East Sea based on international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Permanent Court Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling issued on July 12, 2016.

Vietnam always complies with the 1982 UNCLOS (Illustrative photo: VNA)

International lawyer Dr Gennady Dubov emphasised that the 1982 UNCLOS is binding to all of its members. He added that Vietnam’s stance on the matter is constructive and helping to maintain peace and development in the East Sea based on principles of international law.

A working group on the building of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and the Group of Friends on the 1982 UNCLOS have been set up, heard the seminar.

Experts said that claimants in the East Sea must respect international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, the ruling of the PCA and other legal documents.

The event once again reiterated the international community’s interest in the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea as well as the value of the PCA’s verdict five years ago./.

VNA