UNCLOS 30 years still valid, controlling 'gray areas', enhancing strategic trust

After two days of substantive, effective, lively and sincere discussions, the 16th International Conference on the East Sea was a great success, suggesting many ideas to promote international standards and laws, contributing to peace and stability in the East Sea.

Discussion session “UNCLOS after 30 years: Still valid?”. (Photo: PH)

The 16th International Scientific Conference on the East Sea : Orienting Thinking, Promoting Standards took place from October 23-24 in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, including 2 important introductory sessions, 1 special session and 7 main discussion sessions.

Discussion session “Reviewing the obligation not to use or threaten to use force in resolving and preventing conflicts”. (Photo: PH)

On the second day, the workshop discussed the 30th anniversary of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Hidehisa Horinouchi affirmed the importance of UNCLOS.

UNCLOS continues to evolve to regulate new issues such as the International Seabed Area, fish stocks, conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, and climate change.

To adapt to new issues, Justice Horinouchi pointed out three methods: through implementing documents, negotiating new agreements, or relying on the interpretation of judicial bodies (through case law and through advisory opinions).

Legal experts believe that UNCLOS needs to be interpreted and applied in good faith. There are also opinions that to ensure UNCLOS, there should be the participation and commitment of major countries, including the US, and regional countries such as Cambodia should also ratify UNCLOS.

Discussion session “Autonomous vehicles at sea: Can artificial intelligence correct itself?”. (Photo: PH)

Assessing the implementation of the obligation not to use or threaten to use force, scholars are concerned about the increasing promotion of “gray zone” activities in the East Sea and the tendency to shift to a “dark” tone, towards “use of force”; determining that the use of force must be considered based on international law.

There are opinions that although international law still has “gaps”, in resolving disputes and controlling “gray zone” activities in the East Sea, the majority of opinions suggest that countries need to increase common understanding and reach consensus, ensure transparency, comply with international law and resolve disputes by peaceful means through negotiations and without threatening or using force, and must limit any actions that may complicate disputes.

Discussion session “Diplomacy, Defense or Deterrence: Which is the choice for peace?”. (Photo: PH)

Scholars say new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) could change the way ships operate in the sea; leading to challenges and risks in cybersecurity that are difficult to control, causing a disruption in the balance.

However, many opinions say that we should not deny the economic and environmental benefits, reduced fuel consumption, and improved operating efficiency of new technology.

It is important that actors use the technology responsibly and safely; it is also necessary to develop regulations to ensure the technology operates effectively and to help prevent the risk of an AI arms race, or even the use of AI in conflict.

Discussing policy options, most scholars support diplomatic and cooperative measures to maintain regional peace and stability and address regional and global challenges, helping to achieve sustainable development goals. Some regional scholars believe that diplomacy will be more effective when combined with defense.

Scholars from Europe said that in the face of the regional security situation, more and more European countries are taking positive and effective actions in the East Sea despite their limited capacity. This involvement affects defense procurement programs, integrating modern technology, helping EU countries possess powerful naval forces in the future.

Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Deputy Director of the Foreign Language Academy, delivered the closing speech at the Workshop.

In his closing speech at the workshop, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy, affirmed that in the context of a world with many fluctuations with geopolitical shifts; competition expanding to vision and perspective of joint development of science and technology, there are still many tools to help manage tensions: diplomacy, international law and common commitment and peaceful cooperation.

ASEAN's role is more important than ever, ASEAN needs to continue to demonstrate its central role in promoting compliance and strengthening common norms to help ensure peace and stability in the region.

Grey Sea and Blue Sea in the South China Sea - Things to Know (Part 1) The criterion "Narrowing the gray sea, expanding the blue sea" was proposed at the 15th East Sea Conference (October 25-26) ...

Vietnam actively promotes the value of UNCLOS, promotes cooperation on seas and oceans The 34th Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS) was held from June 10-14. ...

Strengthening and expanding international cooperation on the sea for peace, stability and sustainable development in the East Sea Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the National Border Committee Nguyen Minh Vu gave an interview to TG&VN Newspaper on the occasion of the ...

Opening of the International Workshop on Cooperation for Peaceful and Developed Borders, Seas and Islands On the morning of October 8, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated with the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation in Vietnam to organize the International Workshop 'Cooperation...

ASEAN is confident, self-reliant and strategically autonomous in a changing world On October 9, continuing the working program of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related Conferences at ...

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/be-mac-hoi-thao-quoc-te-bien-dong-unclos-30-nam-con-nguyen-gia-tri-kiem-soat-vung-xam-tang-cuong-long-tin-chien-luoc-291237.html