(VOVWORLD) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the US supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s consistent stance that it does not allow China’s plot to monopolize the East Sea (known internationally as South China Sea).
 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Photo: Politico/VOV) |
Soon after ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement on a Cohesive And Responsive ASEAN was passed, the top American diplomat tweeted: “The United States welcomes ASEAN Leaders’ insistence that South China Sea disputes be resolved in line with international law, including UNCLOS. China cannot be allowed to treat the SCS as its maritime empire. We will have more to say on this topic soon.”
The 36th ASEAN Summit on Friday released a joint statement affirming the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea and ensure that the East Sea is a peaceful, stable and prosperous sea. ASEAN leaders emphasized the importance of fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon developing an effective and substantial Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including 1982 UNCLOS.