India urges no unilateral actions in East Sea
India has called on all States to avoid unilateral actions in the East Sea that can lead to tensions in the region.
Speaking at a press briefing in New Delhi on February 25, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup made the call in reply to a question on the latest moves of China in the East Sea.
"On South China Sea (which Vietnam calls the East Sea), our position has remained consistent. India has repeatedly stressed the need for all to respect the freedom of navigation in international waters, right of passage and over flight, unimpeded commerce and access to resources in accordance with the 1982 Convention of the Law of the Sea," the spokesperson said.
"We have also consistently maintained that all States should avoid unilateral actions in the East Sea that can lead to tensions in the region," he added.
Also on February 25, the spokesperson of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry told a regular press briefing in Hanoi that despite the objections and concerns of Vietnam and the international community, China continues to make moves that not only seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty and accelerate militarisation in the East Sea, but also threaten peace and stability in the region as well as maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the Sea.
"Vietnam is strongly opposed to the actions that seriously infringe its sovereignty and demands China be responsible and constructive in words and deeds in maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world, and with respect for international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC)," the spokesman stressed while again reiterating Vietnam’s indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.
