Int’l seminar promotes East Sea maritime security cooperation

An international seminar promoting maritime security cooperation in the East Sea took place in Hanoi on December 4, attracting 120 scholars and experts from within and outside the region, and representatives from about 30 diplomatic corps in Vietnam.
Int’l seminar promotes East Sea maritime security cooperation ảnh 1At the event (Source: qdnd.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – An international seminar promotingmaritime security cooperation in the East Sea took place in Hanoi on December4, attracting 120 scholars and experts from within and outside the region, andrepresentatives from about 30 diplomatic corps in Vietnam.

With the participation of foreign speakers from the UnitedNations International Law Commission, the UK, Australia, France, Japan,Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, the event heard nine presentations and 20opinions on regional and international experience in maritime demarcation and thesettlement of disputes at sea, as well as legal aspects of the collaborationamong law enforcement forces at sea.

Addressing the event, Deputy Director of the DiplomaticAcademy of Vietnam Pham Lan Dung said the recent developments in the East Sea haveforced coastal countries to deploy law enforcement forces at sea, thus leadingto unexpected encounters. As such, the time has come for a frank discussion toenhance their cooperation to mitigate unexpected encounters, she added.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick said Australiashares the same viewpoint with ASEAN and other countries on the joint visionfor the region and operation principles of international system, including thepeaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, refraining fromthe use of or threat to use forces, respect for navigation and aviationfreedom, and protection of the rights and interests of smaller countries.

UK Vice Ambassador to Vietnam Steph Lysaght said the seminarprovides an invaluable opportunity to strengthen understanding about maritimesecurity and the role of maritime freedom in global trade.

Speakers highlighted the peaceful means used to settleinternational disputes, including the compulsory mediation measure for maritimedemarcation between Australia and East Timor in the Timor Sea and Malaysia’ssuccessful settlement of territorial disputes with Indonesia and Singapore by bringingthe case to the International Court of Justice.

Based on previous lessons, speakers offered suggestionsregarding maritime demarcation and cooperation promotion in the East Sea,especially in terms of fisheries.

Several opinions suggested expanding the Code for UnplannedEncounters at Sea to cover law enforcement forces, holding international lawcourses for ASEAN law enforcement forces, and enhancing trilateral andmultilateral cooperation frameworks. –VNA

VNA

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