Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Chargé d'Affaires of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN (Photo: VOV)

Addressing the session, Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Chargé d'Affaires of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN, said Vietnam upholds the universal, consistent, and comprehensive value of UNCLOS.

He said Vietnam's consistent stance is that all disputes must be resolved through peaceful means in line with international law and respect for diplomatic and legal processes, without the use force or threatening to use force.

The Ambassador called on all parties to refrain from militarizing or conducting activities that would complicate the situation, worsen disputes, affect maritime and aviation safety and security in the East Sea, or threaten peace and stability in the region.

He urged all parties to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negotiate an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in line with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The US, Germany, Japan, Australia and the Philippines emphasized the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea (called East Sea by Vietnam), and said the maritime claims need to be established in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

Their statements said parties must settle international disputes peacefully in accordance with UNCLOS and its arbitration mechanisms. Countries’ internal laws and policies must be consistent with UNCLOS and respect the 2016 international arbitration court ruling on the East Sea.