Vietnam will organize an international conference on the construction of artificial islands in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the East Sea and its impact to security and safety in the region and the world.
Since 2014, China has carried out large scale construction to make artificial islands on shoals such as Gac Ma (Johnson South Reef), Chu Thap (Fiery Cross Reef), Chau Vien (Cuarteron Reef), and Tu Nghia (Hughes Reef) - whose sovereignty is claimed by Vietnam and some other regional countries.
This is the second conference after the first one held last year after China deployed its Haiyang Shiyou oil platform in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam from May to July.
The event will discuss about the legal aspects relating to the construction of artificial islands of international laws, the real situation of the construction in the East Sea, and its impact to security, economy, trade and maritime safety.
Around 20 experts and scholars on international laws and international maritime laws from Russia, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam will join the conference.
Especially, doctor Erik Franckx - member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and law professor of international law of the Vrije University Brussels - will deliver his speech at the conference tomorrow.