(VOVworld) – The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday expressed concern about the escalating tension in the East Sea and asked parties concerned to exercise restraint and avoid further actions that may complicate the situation in the region. The ministry clarified Laos’ stance in a note responding to a Vietnamese note on China’s illegal placement of its floating drilling rig Haiyang 981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Laos maintains that the East Sea is an important and sensitive area, and it is crucial to maintain and promote peace, stability and cooperation in the region. It calls on parties concerned to settle the territorial dispute by peaceful measures, without resorting to the use of force, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).  Laos suggests that parties concerned fully observe the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and speed up consultations on a more legally binding code of conduct (COC) to handle the dispute.