On May 17, in Ha Long (Quang Ninh), the 20th ASEAN - China Senior Officials Meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (SOM - DOC) took place.
Previously, ASEAN countries held a meeting to coordinate their stance. Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of Vietnam's ASEAN SOM, led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the conferences.
Conference delegates
This SOM - DOC meeting was held after a nearly 2-year hiatus. The countries reaffirmed the value and importance of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) for the region. Accordingly, they highly appreciated a number of positive results in implementing the DOC in recent times, although the region has been deeply affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and many specific cooperation activities have been effectively implemented and on schedule.
In addition, the countries also shared concerns about some complicated developments in the East Sea in recent times, which have eroded trust, increased tensions, and affected the legitimate rights and interests of the countries bordering the East Sea. Therefore, the countries emphasized the need for ASEAN and China to seriously, effectively and fully implement the DOC in all its provisions.
At the same time, reaffirm the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea. Respect principles such as exercising restraint, not using or threatening to use force, and peacefully resolving disputes on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The SOM - DOC meeting acknowledged the progress in the COC negotiations and exchanged orientations for the COC negotiation process carried out by the DOC Working Group (JWG DOC).
The countries also emphasized the need to achieve an effective, substantive COC that is in accordance with international law and UNCLOS 1982, contributing to building trust, confidence, and more effective management of incidents in the East Sea.
Speaking at the conference, Ambassador Vu Ho emphasized that the East Sea is the world's vital shipping route, therefore, maintaining and promoting peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in this sea area is not only the common interest and responsibility of ASEAN and China, but also demonstrates the responsibility of both sides to the international community.
Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of Vietnam ASEAN SOM, speaks at the conference.
Faced with the complicated situation in the East Sea and the continued unilateral actions violating international law, Ambassador Vu Ho suggested that countries promote "practice matching words", turning political commitments into specific and appropriate actions on the ground.
In that spirit, Ambassador Vu Ho emphasized the need to take the provisions of international law and UNCLOS as a "compass" for activities in the East Sea.
While stepping up efforts to achieve a substantive, effective COC that is consistent with international law and UNCLOS and supported by the international community, countries need to seriously and fully implement all provisions of the DOC. This effort will also contribute to creating a favorable environment for the COC negotiation process.
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