(VOVworld) – US President Barack Obama on Thursday urged the US Congress to approve the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

US President Barack Obama attended the graduation ceremony at the US Air Force Academy. (Photo: AFP)

Speaking at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, he said if the US is truly concerned about China’s actions in the East Sea, the Senate should help strengthen US arguments by approving UNCLOS.

The White House believes that their argument that all disputes must be resolved peacefully is weakened because US Congress hasn’t ratified UNCLOS.

In the meantime, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) located in The Hague in the Netherlands is proceeding to issue its final ruling on the Philippines' lawsuit against China’s claims in the East Sea.