The East Sea is a semi-closed expanse of water abutting seven countries - Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore. It is not only crucial for their development but also a strategic link in several international maritime routes. The sea holds several strategic benefits that are eyed by global powers.
Cambodia has begun extracting crude oil from fields in its waters off the southwestern coast of Sihanoukville, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on December 29.
Many international maritime routes pass through the East Sea, making it the world’s second-busiest shipping lane in terms of commercial activities, after the Mediterranean. The sea, however, has been threatened with potential instability from frequent piracy, while sovereignty disputes over islands are becoming more complex.
A party resolution on the “Strategy for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy clearly states that Vietnam is expected to become a strong nation in marine development. To maintain a peaceful environment at sea while creating a foundation for effective use of marine resources, the Resolution establishes a motto of “Proactively strengthening and international cooperation at sea”.
The Thai government is planning to spend 100 billion baht (over 3.2 billion USD) to develop a 240km canal running from Chai Nat province to the Gulf of Thailand to prevent flooding in the country’s central region.
Some 1,670 metres of dykes in U Minh district’s Khanh Tien commune in the southernmost province of Ca Mau have subsided in recent times - the latest in a number of similar incidents along the dyke network facing the Gulf of Thailand.
A grim report on the world economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on April 15 caused oil prices to continue to slide, with international prices hitting the lowest level since 2002 as planned output cuts were deemed insufficient to offset a COVID-19-fuelled slump in demand.
The Hon Xuong Island in the southern province of Kien Giang offers the same beauty as the Maldives without the 5-star expense, according to the Evening Standard, a UK based newspaper.
Situated at approximately 65 kilometers to the Southwest from Rach Gia, U Minh Thuong National Park is one of the three areas recognised the world’s biosphere reserve by UNESCO in Kien Giang Province.
The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is preparing to develop the country's first floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) worth 24.5 billion baht (807.8 million USD) to support its business plan to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from 2020.
Ha Tien city and Kien Luong district in Kien Giang province have yet to fully tap their potential for tourism due to the lack of policies to attract investments in local infrastructure.
Floods and landslides caused by tropical storms and monsoon since late August have killed 34 people and affected the lives of more than 400,000 people in 32 northern and northeastern provinces of Thailand.
The National Water Resource Committee (NWRC) of Thailand on September 12 approved three new major water management projects with a combined value of more than 18 billion THB (600 million USD) and is now seeking cabinet approval on them.
Navies from Vietnam and other ASEAN countries are participating in the first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise that is taking place from Sep 2-6 in the Gulf of Thailand and off Vietnam’s Ca Mau province.
Navies from Vietnam and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are participating in the first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) that is taking place from September 2-6 in the Gulf of Thailand and off Vietnam’s southern Ca Mau province.
Myanmar and other ASEAN countries will join maritime drills with the US in the Gulf of Thailand next week, although there are US sanctions against a number of high-raking officials of the Myanmar army.
Vietnam has demanded China to immediately stop violations, withdraw all vessels from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and not have actions to increase tensions, complicate the situation, and threaten peace, stability and security in the East Sea and the region, the Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
Boasting great potential of marine economy in terms of natural resources, transport, fisheries, tourism and coastal economic zones, Vietnam has set the target to become a powerful marine nation, which meets all standards on sustainable development of sea-based economy.
Vietnam actively participated in the negotiation process and building of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and has made significant efforts in enforcing the pact.
Videos
