Vietnam has underlined the significant role of the 1982 UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in creating legal frameworks for
promoting the exploitation of seas and oceans in a peaceful, fair, stable and
effective manner for humankind’s peace and prosperity.
Addressing the 25th meeting of State Parties to the UNCLOS, which
took place in New York, the US from June 8-12, the head of Vietnam’s Permanent
Representative Delegation to the UN, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga noted that
the East Sea, which is rich in natural resources and the second largest
maritime route in the world, should be safeguarded and used in a sustainable
way.
The ambassador stressed the need to maintain peace, stability, navigation
security, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea in line with
the UNCLOS and international law.
Vietnam is concerned about current complicated developments in the
East Sea, especially large-scale construction activities, which change the
natural characteristics of some structures in the sea, destroy marine
environment and ecosystem and seriously affecting peace, stability and security
in the region, thus causing great concerns among ASEAN member nations and
countries inside and outside the region, Ambassador Nga stated.
She emphasised that all actions that change the status quo in the
East Sea, damage the marine environment and further complicate disputes in the
waters must stop immediately.
The official also reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance on the
issue, which calls for the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful
measures, in line with international law, including the UNCLOS, and that
dispute-involved parties should fully carry out commitments in the Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and work together to build a Code of
Conduct (COC) soon.
The meeting, which saw the participation of 136 UNCLOS member
nations, approved reports on activities of the International Court of Justice
on the Law of the Sea in 2014, the International Seabed Authority and the
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
Source: VNA
