(VOVworld)- More than 200 foreign and Vietnamese delegates attended the 7th International Conference on the East Sea in Vung Tau city. The delegates stressed the importance of settling disputes in the East Sea in line with international law.
Delegates attend the International Conference on East Sea in Vung Tau (Photo: VNA) |
The delegates agreed that there were not many major conflicts in the East Sea this year but disputes remained, threatening stability, security and development in the region. They stressed the need to find a long-term solution to the problem.
Brahma Chellaney of the Indian Policy Research Center in New Dehli said recent challenges in the East Sea stem from unilateral activities that are changing the regional status quo. Doctor Patrick Cronin, Consultant and Senior Director of the Asia Pacific Security Program of the US Security Center said security in the East Sea can’t be ensured if a country changes the status quo by building artificial islands and bullying other countries.
Doctor Nguyen Nam Duong, Deputy Director of the Strategy Research Institute of the Vietnam Diplomatic Academy said only the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea is used to settle disputes in the region. But this legal document is not sufficient in the context of rapid changes of the regional security architecture. With its central role and the establishment of the single Community, ASEAN will contribute to the settlement of disputes in the East Sea. Doctor Cronin said that all countries must show restraint and abide by international law. The US is especially concerned about law obedience and the freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea. The US praised ASEAN’s role in addressing disputes in the region. Former Deputy Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung said that all countries, big and small, need to be equal and respect international law in settling disputes.
Conference delegates discussed ways to promote understanding and cooperation in the East Sea on the basis of international law and agreed that only by respecting independence, sovereignty and international law, can the problems be settled.