Vietnam supports settling disputes through peaceful means
(VOV) - Vietnam is keen to resolve East Sea disputes, including those related to its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, through peaceful means in accordance with international law.
Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, Deputy Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of International Law and Treaties, made this affirmation at the London International Boundary Conference on April 19.
Nguyet praised regional countries for their positive contributions to maintaining peace and stability, and ensuring maritime freedom and safety in the East Sea.
Vietnam is continuing negotiations with regional countries to deal with sea disputes. It has joined hands with other ASEAN countries to create many important documents such as the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the ASEAN Declaration on Six-point Principles on the East Sea, while urging the early finalization of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.
Vietnam pledges to maintain peace and stability in the region and not threaten or use force, which would further complicate the situation. It respects the right to maritime freedom and is willing to work together with the other parties concerned to ensure maritime security and safety for boats and ships operating in the East Sea in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), said Nguyet.
The Vietnamese representative said Vietnam has sufficient historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands, which the country occupied peacefully in the 17th century and has since exercised jurisdiction over them.
Concerning technical difficulties in seeking solutions for boundary demarcation, Henry Bensurto, Jr., Senior Special Assistant to the Philippines Office of the Undersecretary for Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs, said China’s claim to sovereignty within the so called “nine-dotted line” is illegal according to international law, especially the UNCLOS.
Director of the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore, Professor Robert Beckman, stated that articles in the UNCLOS related to the settlement of disputes play a crucial role in seeking a comprehensive solution to the current East Sea issues.