(VOVworld) – Australian senator Scott Ryan said the Australian government hailed speeches on the East Sea situation made at recent ASEAN Summit in May.

Chinese ships attacked Vietnamese ones (Photo: VOV)

In a letter to the Vietnam Entrepreneurs Association, Senator Ryan said Australia shared ASEAN’s great concern over the tension in the East Sea. He said Australia is not talking sides but has an interest in maintaining peace and stability, respecting international law and assuring maritime freedom.

Ryan said Australia urges all parties to exercise restraint and avoid provocative acts which may worsen the situation. The governments, he said, need to clarify and follow territorial declarations and maritime rules in line with international laws, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and China and ASEAN need to promptly finish the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.