VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh declared issues in the East Sea "a common concern" for countries in the region during a speech at the 46th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, yesterday, June 30. Minh stressed the East Sea had seen complex developments in recent times, citing a spate of territorial claims and cases of ships firing at or ramming into Vietnamese fishing boats inside the country's exclusive economic zone. He said those incidents run counter to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). In light of such moves, he suggested ASEAN call on all relevant parties to respect commitments made in the DOC, UNCLOS and ASEAN's Six-Point Principles in the East Sea. According to Minh, regional countries should restrain themselves and never use force, instead settling disputes through peaceful means while … [Read more...]
Vision needed for East Sea stability
Southeast Asian countries must develop a long-term vision to build peace, stability and development in the region, particularly in light of the ongoing East Sea (South China Sea) dispute, speakers said at an international conference that opened yesterday in the southern coastal city of Vung Tau. The two-day 7th annual South China Sea (East Sea) International Conference on Cooperation for Regional Security and Development is providing an opportunity to assess the current situation in the East Sea from an interdisciplinary perspective. More than 200 local and international academics and representatives of diplomatic corps in the country are attending the event, co-hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, the Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS) and the Viet Nam Lawyers Association. In his opening speech, Dang Dinh Quy, president of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, said in an ever-globalised world, the importance of the East Sea to the security and development for the region … [Read more...]
Viet Nam protects sovereignty in East Sea
Vision needed for East Sea stability ASEAN, China talk on East Sea Viet Nam stakes East Sea claim East Sea talks make progress in Da Nang East Asia needs long-term vision for peaceful, stable development: PM Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang.— VNA/VNS Photo An Dang HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam's authorised agencies were tasked with firmly safeguarding the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the East Sea, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang told reporters at a regular press conference in Ha Noi yesterday. She was responding to a reporters' question regarding China's movement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig in the East Sea. Hang said as a party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), Viet Nam had always fully implemented all of its rights and obligations in line with international law, contributing to peace, stability, security, freedom and safety of navigation in the East Sea. … [Read more...]
Viet Nam stakes East Sea claim
Vision needed for East Sea stability ASEAN, China talk on East Sea East Sea talks make progress in Da Nang East Asia needs long-term vision for peaceful, stable development: PM VN, China hold marine dialogue Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam spokesperson Le Hai Binh. — File Photo HA NOI (VNS) — In response to the Position Paper of the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Matter of Jurisdiction in the South China Sea Arbitration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam spokesperson Le Hai Binh stated: "Once again, Viet Nam reiterates that Viet Nam has full historical evidence and legal foundation to reaffirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, as well as other legal rights and interests of Viet Nam in the East Sea. It is Viet Nam's consistent position to fully reject China's claim over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes and the adjacent waters, as well as China's claiming of ‘historic rights' to the … [Read more...]
East Sea talks make progress in Da Nang
In spite of the negative fallout from "unrestrained" actions of a party in the East Sea dispute, talks on restoring stability in the area have made headway, experts said yesterday. "There are different opinions on stability in the East Sea and ways to solve tensions in the area, but recommendations on co-operation among countries have yet to be deployed," Nguyen Van Quyen, chairman of the Viet Nam Lawyers' Association, told the sixth South China Sea (East Sea) International Conference held in the central city of Da Nang. Highlighting some of the problems created by the dispute, he said: "Seafood production has declined, and the status quo in the East Sea has gradually changed." Quyen said the international community has asked concerned parties to settle the disagreement through peaceful measures in line with international law, namely the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). Work also needed … [Read more...]
ASEAN, China talk on East Sea
VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Foreign Minster Pham Quang Vinh and his Chinese counterpart, Cheng Guoping, on June 25 concluded a two-day meeting of senior officials from ASEAN and China on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). Both sides agreed on the commitment to implement the declaration and create a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. They also stressed the need to maintain peace, stability, maritime security and safety and peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international laws, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The meeting also re-assessed the achievements made in the implementation of DOC, especially restarting the ASEAN-China senior officials’ meeting (SOM) and approving guidelines for DOC implementation and an action plan for DOC implementation. They all reaffirmed that the declaration is an important document, helping to build trust in the region and enhance … [Read more...]
ASEAN Summit to debate on East Sea
Negotiations for a code of conduct of parties in the East Sea (COC) will be discussed at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Le Hai Binh said yesterday. The event will also appraise the impacts of the financial crisis, the sluggish recovery of regional economies, disaster management and climate change along with regional maritime and aviation security and safety issues, he added. The 26th ASEAN Summit, to be held in Malaysia from April 26-27, will focus on issues such as the ASEAN Community and its post-2015 vision as well as the bloc's centrality. Founded in August 1967, ASEAN consists of 10 countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. Binh also commented on Viet Nam's stand in the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiation with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the role of Cuba in the approaching Summit of the Americas. He said the signing and implementation of a FTA … [Read more...]
Viet Nam halts lost jet search in East Sea
All 239 on board feared dead, MH370 has gone down in Indian Ocean Flight MH370 ended in southern Indian Ocean, says Najib Lost passenger jet was diverted deliberately: Malaysian PM Briefings on jet search suspended Still no sign of missing airliner Viet Nam halts search of missing plane in the East Sea. — Photo VNA HA NOI – Viet Nam is halting its search in the East Sea for the missing plane of the Malaysia Airlines, but stands ready to do the work in other areas in its capacity if the Malaysian side requests, an official has said. Speaking at the office of the National Committee for Search and Rescue on March 15 afternoon, Lt. Gen. Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, further said Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Nguyen Hong Thao had called to inform about outcomes of the press conference held earlier the same day by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, during which he said the search in the East Sea is halted. Sen. … [Read more...]
German institute to host international symposium on East Sea
Disputes in the East Sea after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling issued in July 2016 will be tabled at an international symposium to be hosted by the Asia-Africa Institute under the Hamburg University from November 24-25. Vietnamese fishing vessel operates in East Sea - Illustrative image According to the organising board, the event will draw European experts on Asia and Southeast Asia and international law, scientists, and historians, including Dr. Benoit de Treglode from the Paris-based Military School’s Institute for Strategic Research, Prof. Dr. Stein Tonnesson from Peace Research Institute Oslo, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Kolotov from St. Petersburg State University, and Dr. Eva Pejsova from the European Union Institute for Security Studies, along with German experts and scholars on Asia, Southeast Asia and East Sea. Prof. Dr. Thomas Engelbert from the Asia-Africa Institute said that the symposium is designed to provide the international community as well … [Read more...]
Vietnam has legal basis to dismiss illegal joint exploration in East Sea
Vietnam has legal basis to dismiss any proposal for joint exploration illegally enabling violations to her continental shelf, said Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao, a Vietnamese lecturer, at a workshop on territorial disputes in the East Sea recently held in the UK. Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao, a professor from the Diplomacy Academy of Vietnam, speaks at the UK's workshop providing new approaches to disputes in the East Sea. The University of Oxford’s China Centre hosted the panel discussion entitled “New Approaches to the South China Sea Conflicts”, bringing together policymakers, lawyers in practice specializing in laws of the sea, experienced arbitrators, and leading academics from ASEAN nations, China, Canada, the US and Europe. The conflicts in the East Sea pose a regional threat to peace, maritime security and economic progress in ASEAN, the littoral states along the sea and global trade. The five major claimants, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and … [Read more...]