Senior officials from
ASEAN member states and dialogue partners have expressed their deep concern
about increased tensions in the East Sea following China’s positioning of its
oil rig inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.
Senior Officials’ Meetings in Yagon, Myanmar
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Gathering in Yagon,
Myanmar, from June 7-9 for Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOMs), they said parties
concerned need to fully observe international law, especially the 1982 UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea, and soon work on a Code of
Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.
Addressing the meetings,
Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh briefed delegates on the
latest developments in the East Sea, stressing that China’s illegal oil rig
placement seriously violates international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, and directly
impacts peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea.
Vietnam resolutely
protests China’s provocative acts including ramming and firing water cannons at
Vietnamese ships, and demands China to immediately withdraw its rig and escort
ships from Vietnam’s waters, Vinh said.
He confirmed that Vietnam
attaches importance to the friendship and cooperation with China, but it
resolves to protect its sacred sovereignty and seas by peaceful measures in
line with international law.
He called on regional
countries and the international community to continue voicing their protest
against China’s violations and asking it to respect international law and the
UNCLOS, as well as to strictly realise the DOC and work toward a COC as soon as
possible.
Regarding ASEAN
cooperation, Deputy FM Vinh stressed the need to enhance unity and bring into
full play the central role of the grouping in addressing issues related to
peace, stability and development cooperation in the region.
He spoke highly of ASEAN’s central role in promoting regional
linkage and connectivity as well as in the evolving regional architecture
towards the common goal of peace and prosperity in the region.
The Vietnamese representative shared the overall assessment about
the outcomes of the cooperation between ASEAN and its partners (Japan, China
and the Republic of Korea), particularly in promoting regional linkage,
responding to natural disaster, climate change, food and energy security and
maritime security and safety.
He took the occasion to announce that Vietnam will host the ASEAN
Marine Forum (AMF) and the Extended ASEAN Marine Forum (EAMF) in late
August.
Vinh also underlined the need to further enhance the East Asia
Summit’s role as an important part of the regional structure with ASEAN forming
the core, so that it continues to contribute to peace, stability and
development in the region.
Source: VOV