Dr. Gerhard Will (Photo: VNA)

Dr. Will stressed the importance of agreeing to a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. He said the document will play a key role in settling East Sea issues. One essential condition, he said, is trust between the sides, which will make the international law-based negotiations a success.

Dr. Will highlighted the crucial role of ASEAN in the negotiations, and urged ASEAN members to remain united and build a sustainable security policy with the US and China, and also with countries like Japan, Australia, and India.

He said the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling in the case filed by the Philippines clearly points out the illegality of China’s so called “nine-dash line.”