(VOVworld) – The legal and political impact of The Hague tribunal’s ruling on the East Sea dispute on Indonesia and the US was discussed at an open forum in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Tuesday.

Forum discusses legal and political impacts of PCA’s ruling (Photo: VNA)

The event, organized by the Habibi Centre of Indonesia and the US Embassy in the country, drew crowds of delegates, experts and representatives from foreign embassies in Jakarta. The event also considered the impact of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the relationships among nations in the region. Addressing the event, Aaron Jensen from the US Embassy expressed his hope that concerned parties would follow the verdict of the PCA and international law and avoid complicating the situation and militarizing disputed islands.  He called on concerned nations to ensure maritime freedom and security in the East Sea, saying that this was the world’s most crucial marine route. Meanwhile, participants reaffirmed that China has no legal basis to its claim of maritime sovereignty over 80 percent of the East Sea with its so-called nine-dot line, saying that China was much further from the waters it claimed than were other claimants.  They also called on concerned parties to respect the PCA’s ruling and on ASEAN nations to further unite to achieve common goals.