Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh (Source:VNA) Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh andhis Japanese counterpart Ro Manabe agreed at a meeting on September 12 that theChina-ASEAN Code of Conduct (COC) on the East Sea should be effective andlegally binding.
Attheir bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 9th ASEAN-Japan Defence Vice-Ministerial Forum in Fukuoka, Japan, the Japanese Deputy Defence Ministerlauded the growing defence cooperation between Japan ASEAN nations, includingVietnam.
Heproposed an informal meeting between the Japanese Defence Minister and ASEANcounterparts be organised in the framework of the upcoming ASEAN DefenceMinisters’ Meeting (ADMM-plus) in October, saying that such a meeting will helpintensify the ties between Japan and ASEAN nations, and create an opportunity forthe new Japanese Defence Minister to get acquainted with ASEAN partners.
RoManabe noted that Japan is very interested in the negotiations to finalise theChina-ASEAN Code of Conduct (COC), adding that Japan wants to cooperate withVietnam in maintaining peace and security and ensuring maritime security in theEast Sea.
DeputyMinister Nguyen Chi Vinh said he will convey Japan’s proposal to the VietnameseDefence Minister, adding that the meeting will require consensus among ASEANnations.
Regardingthe China-ASEAN COC, Vinh held that it must be based on international law,including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982).
Vietnamdoes not accept the so-called new status in the East Sea which was created throughillegal reclamation, construction and militarization of reefs and shoals in thewaters, he said.
Vinhalso reiterated that Vietnam supports denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsulaand the settlement of all issues through peaceful dialogues on the basis of internationallaw.-VNA
VNA
