(VOVWORLD) - Australia and France voiced serious concerns about the situation in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam) in a joint statement following their recent 2+2 Ministerial Consultations.
 Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne (R) and Minister for Defence Peter Dutton of Australia during the 2+2 consultations with their French counterparts on August 30, 2021. (Marise Payne's Facebook page) |
The consultations involved Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Peter Dutton of Australia, and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly of France.
The Ministers expressed their strong opposition to destabilising or coercive actions that could increase tensions and called for all disputes to be resolved in a peaceful manner in accordance with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
They reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight consistent with international law and agreed to closer maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including through future joint transits.
The Ministers underscored the importance of the strong and enduring commitment of other partners, including the United States, and Indo-Pacific partners in upholding an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific in accordance with international law.
They reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN centrality and the critical role of ASEAN-led fora, which sit at the apex of the regional architecture, in promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity.
They affirmed their support for the principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and to progressing practical cooperation under its four priority areas.