Dr.  Grigory Lokshin speaks at the workshop.

This was the first time the East Sea topic was included in a seminar agenda for young talents and researchers of the Russian legal circle. Leading Research Fellow, Center for the Study of Vietnam and ASEAN, Dr Grigory Lokshin, briefed participants on latest development in the East Sea, confirming China’s serious violation of Vietnamese exclusive economic zone and continental shelf when China’s Geological Survey Ship Haiyang Dizhi -8 (HD-8) along with escort ships entered into Vietnam’s Vanguard Bank which is completely within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Lokshin ruled out any international legal grounds for China to claim sovereignty over the waters. Participants agreed that all disputed parties should comply with recognized international standards when dealing with disputes in the East Sea, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which China is a member.