(VOVworld) – Recent complications around the East Sea have aroused global concern. The East Sea was a major topic for discussion at the 25th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Myanmar, the 22nd APEC Summit in China, and an international conference on the East Sea in Vietnam. Thu Hoa comments:
The international conference on the East Sea was held in Da Nang city on November 17 and 18. Themed “East Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development”, the conference was a continuation of discussions of viewpoints and policies concerning the East Sea. The East Sea was a pressing issue at the 25th ASEAN Summit and related meetings and the 22nd APEC Summit.
Maintaining stability in the East Sea for mutual benefit
Maintaining peace, stability, safety, security, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea was an issue that caught the attention of delegates to the ASEAN and APEC summits, the ASEAN+3 summit, and the East Asia summit the most. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung addressed the increasing risks of instability and conflict, threatening peace, security, stability, and development in the East Sea. He said: “ASEAN should be more proactive and responsible in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region. We need to continue to urge all parties to respect and fully comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), particularly Article 5 concerning the exercise of self-restraint, not escalating tension, not further complicating the situation, not using or threatening to use force, settling disputes through peaceful means, and respecting international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). At the same time practical negotiations should be conducted to quickly adopt a binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).”
Addressing the 2nd plenary session of the 22nd APEC Summit in Beijing, President Truong Tan Sang said that in the current context of risks of instability and challenges to regional security and development, it is crucial to boost dialogue and every effort in accordance with international law and the regional code of conduct. He said that this is aimed at maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation, and development cooperation in Asia-Pacific, including Southeast Asia and the East Sea.
Vietnam’s responsibility to regional peace and instability
Vietnam’s approach to East Sea issues at international conferences has demonstrated its responsibility to peace, stability, security, and development in the Asia-Pacific region. This approach is in the interest of all countries inside and outside the region so it was lauded by ASEAN leaders and ASEAN’s partners. Vietnam’s stance on settling the East Sea issue was included in the 25th ASEAN Chairman’s Statement and supported by leaders of ASEAN’s partners including US President Barack Obama, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister and head of SOM ASEAN-Vietnam Pham Quang Vinh said: “Within their dialogue framework both ASEAN and China have stressed such principles as abiding by international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, as well as settling disputes through peaceful means toward adopting a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. They have agreed in principle to discuss ways to implement Article 5 of the DOC, build trust, not further complicate the situation, and the possible establishment of a hotline. Both have agreed to increase consultative meetings on building a COC.”
The East Sea issue has been discussed at 3 international conferences. Peaceful dispute settlement in line with international law is what the international community wants from concerned parties. The more complicated the East Sea situation becomes, the greater the efforts the world community needs to make in order to establish effective mechanisms to avoid disputes and conflicts.