China illegally builds artificial islands in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago (Photo: DigitalGlobe) Hanoi (VNA) – The Mexican Institute for Friendship and Cooperation with Vietnam (IACMV) and Poland’s Saint Stanislaw Brotherhood have voiced their support for the recent ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague on the Philippines’s lawsuit against China’s claims in the East Sea.
In its statement sent to the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico, the IACMV highlighted the historical significance of the judgment, saying that it contributes to peacefully settling disputes in the East Sea.
The IACMV called on the Chinese government to respect the verdict, adding that if any country does not abide by international law and acts unilaterally, it will create chaotic conditions and threaten the peace and sovereignty of countries in the region.
The IACMV reaffirmed its strong support for Vietnam’s efforts to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, Ryszard Murat, head of the Saint Stanislaw Brotherhood, said the association applauds the PCA’s judgment at a ceremony to announce the association’s letter to Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) held in Warsaw on July 23.
The ruling will create a legal foundation for settling East Sea-related disputes in a peaceful manner, he added.
The letter, which shows the association’s support for the PCA’s ruling as well as for Vietnam’s efforts to safeguard the country’s sea and island sovereignty, was handed over to representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland and to send to VUFO.
Many political parties, civil organisations and individuals worldwide have recently expressed their support for the ruling, as well as Vietnam’s stance on the peaceful settlement of disputes with respect for legal and diplomatic processes.
On July 12, the PCA issued the ruling on the case brought by the Philippines against China’s nine-dash line claim in the East Sea, saying China’s claims to historic rights for waters within the nine-dash line are contrary to the 1982 UNCLOS.
The Hague Tribunal also finds no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the nine-dash line.
The country has no historic title over waters of the East Sea. At the same time, China has caused permanent and irreparable harm to the coral reef ecosystem at Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, the court said.-VNA
