Delegates all hope to gain a better understanding, especially from scholars from Europe and beyond Southeast Asia, of the difficulties and challenges associated with the disputes in the South China Sea.
Professor Carl Thayer in an interview. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)On the sidelines of the 15th International Scientific Conference on the East Sea organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25-26, VNA reporters recorded the opinions of a number of international scholars and experts on the significance and importance of the Conference to the international community's joint efforts to maintain peace, prosperity and sustainable development for the East Sea.
As someone who has spent many years researching the geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific region and has only once failed to attend an international conference on the East Sea, Professor Carl Thayer, Australian Defense Force Academy, said that Vietnam has increasingly adjusted the content of the conference to focus on issues of interest to the international community.
The conference topics each year focus on different issues, and delegates learn more and delve deeper into the issues raised by the conference.
This conference was attended by representatives of the European Coast Guard.
[15th International Conference on the East Sea: Dialogue, promoting trust]
According to Professor Carl Thayer, for any issue in the East Sea, expectations are not always met and progress is quite slow.
However, Indonesia as ASEAN Chair has been instrumental in driving the discussions, so it can be hoped that the issue will be taken up by the next Chair, the Philippines...
According to the Professor, international law represents the interests of the international community, giving priority to resolving conflicts through diplomatic measures.
International law is not to be used as a weapon to enhance national security but to clarify and guide the conduct of states...
Professor Robert Beckman gives an interview to VNA reporter. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)Sharing his thoughts, Professor Robert Beckman, Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore, said that the Workshop was very useful and interesting because what was discussed by international experts in the official meetings as well as on the sidelines was very important.
Delegates all hope to gain a better understanding, especially from scholars from Europe and beyond Southeast Asia, of the difficulties and challenges associated with the disputes in the South China Sea.
To narrow the “gray sea” and expand the “blue sea” for the East Sea in the future, Professor Robert Beckman believes that it would be useful to continue discussing the “gray sea,” to analyze not only what is happening in Southeast Asia but also with other regions of Asia.
Earlier, in his opening speech at the Workshop, Mr. Do Hung Viet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, said that over the past 15 years, the East Sea Workshop series has become an open, frank and friendly forum for international experts to promote common understanding and narrow differences.
Scene of the second working session of the Workshop. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)The workshop contributed to promoting transparency, building networks among experts in different fields and creating a platform for exchanging ideas within the region; harmonizing the impulses for cooperation and risk reduction, turning the East Sea into a sea of cooperation rather than confrontation, a sea of connection rather than division, a sea of prosperity and reduction of discord.
“Only cooperation at sea can help us shift the color of the East Sea from gray to blue, towards peace and sustainable development. To achieve that, respecting and complying with international maritime law as reflected in UNCLOS is a key factor,” Mr. Do Hung Viet emphasized./.
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