Vietnamplus

ASEAN member nations and China are committed to completing a code of conduct (COC) to handle disputes in the East Sea, said Singaporean Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen.

Vietnam has become one of the top five exporters of aquatic products in the world thanks to the development of the fisheries sector over the past years.

Central Thua Thien-Hue province will support offshore fishing activities in Phu Vang and Phu Loc districts starting this month in a project worth more than 9.7 billion VND (426,800 USD).

The ninth East Sea International Conference opened in Ho Chi Minh City on November 27, focusing on the theme “Cooperation for Regional Security and Development”.

The exhibition titled “Hoang Sa, Truong Sa of Vietnam: Historical and legal evidence” is taking place at the 2nd Corp High Command in Luc Ngan district of the northern province of Bac Giang.

The Gabriel Péri Foundation of France held an international seminar on the East Sea at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on November 21.

Leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states and partner countries have reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in the East Sea, internationally known as South China Sea, while attending the recent 12th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila, the Philippines.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry and the Centre of Southeast Asian Studies opened a seminar in Indonesia on November 16, focusing discussions on managing potential conflict in the East Sea.

US President Donald Trump and his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte vowed to support freedom of navigation and overflight.

ASEAN and China agreed on a 10-year plan through 2027 to protect the coasts and marine resources in the East Sea while trying to settle territorial disputes in the waters.

The sixth East Sea conference held by the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) opened in Kuala Lumpur on October 4 under the theme “Fostering a shared future in the East Sea”.

Security and cooperation in the East Sea were the focus of discussions at a workshop organised in Moscow on September 18 by the Institute of Oriental Studies under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh and his Japanese counterpart Ro Manabe agreed that the China-ASEAN Code of Conduct (COC) on the East Sea should be effective and legally binding.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang has voiced Vietnam’s strong opposition to Taiwan’s live-fire drill on Ba Binh (Itu Aba) Island, part of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, and asked the Chinese territory not to repeat similar actions.

When talking about Truong Sa archipelago, people think of soldiers safeguarding national sovereignty and territory. But they also should think about doctors who silently contribute to the archipelago.

An exhibition displaying maps and documents on Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos opened in Dong Hy district in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, on August 4.

For each Vietnamese person, Truong Sa is an inseparable part of the nation. Soldiers there have devoted themselves to safeguarding sovereignty.

A Vietnamese representative has again stressed the important role of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the Constitution of the seas and oceans.

The fifth annual International Maritime Congress recently held in Poland raised concern over the complicated developments in the East Sea issue.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo said Asian countries will likely agree on a code of conduct for the East Sea (COC) when regional leaders meet for a summit in November.