Hanoi demands countries speak, act consistently over East Vietnam Sea issues
Thursday, May 18, 2023, 22:15 GMT+7
Countries should translate political commitments on issues in the East Vietnam Sea into specific and appropriate acts, Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ delegation of Vietnam, said at a recent meeting.
Amid the complicated situation and ongoing unilateral actions that violate international law in the East Vietnam Sea, Ambassador Ho called on countries to 'walk the talk' at the 20th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Vietnam Sea held in northern Quang Ninh Province on Wednesday after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
The meeting was co-chaired by Myanmar, the coordinator of ASEAN-China ties, and China.
Ho also stressed the need to handle issues in the East Vietnam Sea on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"While striving to achieve a Code of Conduct (COC) for the East Vietnam Sea, countries should seriously and fully abide by all the provisions of the DOC," Ho said.
"These efforts will contribute to creating a favorable environment for COC negotiations."
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| Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ delegation of Vietnam, makes suggestions about issues in the East Vietnam Sea. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
At the meeting, representatives of countries reiterated the values and importance of the DOC to the region and pointed out positive results in the DOC implementation over the past time.
They also voiced their concerns over the complex situation in the East Vietnam Sea, which has eroded trust, heightened tension, and affected the legitimate rights and interests of the countries bordering the sea.
They urged ASEAN and China to seriously, effectively, and fully comply with the DOC’s provisions.
Attendees at the 20th SOM-DOC also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Vietnam Sea.
They emphasized the respect for principles, such as exercising self-restraint, refraining from the threat or use of force, and peacefully settling disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
The 21st SOM-DOC will be hosted by China in the last quarter of this year.
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