(VOVworld) - ASEAN and China should expeditiously agree on a Code of Conduct (COC) to ease tensions in the East Sea, said Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen Tuesday at the 10th International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX Asia) in Singapore.
Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen spoke at the 10th International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference in Singapore (Photo: internet)
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He said if China and involved countries conclude the COC, a pact that would forbid the use of force in potential conflicts, it will allow all sides to peacefully settle the disputes based on internationally accepted norms and legal frameworks. Hen said though Singapore takes no side in the disputes in the East Sea, it is concerned that the risk of incidents and conflicts has increased. He added that the East Sea territorial dispute may cause a disruption to maritime trade routes in this part of the world that will affect Singapore and the global economy. All countries therefore share an interest in keeping regional sea lines of communication open and secure.
US Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michelle Howard, also voiced concerns about China’s construction of artificial islands in the East Sea, saying it is time for China to explain this reclamation effort.