Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao, a professor from the Diplomacy Academy of Vietnam, speaks at the UK's workshop providing new approaches to disputes in the East Sea. (Photo: VNA)London(VNA) – Vietnam has legal basis to dismiss any proposal for joint explorationillegally enabling violations to her continental shelf, said Dr. Nguyen HongThao, a Vietnamese lecturer, at a workshop on territorial disputes in the EastSea recently held in the UK.
The University ofOxford’s China Centre hosted the panel discussion entitled “New Approaches tothe South China Sea Conflicts”, bringing together policymakers, lawyers inpractice specializing in laws of the sea, experienced arbitrators, and leadingacademics from ASEAN nations, China, Canada, the US and Europe.
Theconflicts in the East Sea pose a regional threat to peace, maritime securityand economic progress in ASEAN, the littoral states along the sea and globaltrade. The five major claimants, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam,Malaysia and Brunei, have ratified the 1982 United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS).
UNCLOScontains specific mechanisms for dispute resolution but the application ofthese mechanisms in the case of the East Sea disputes over the past time hasnot yet proven effective.
Some said that the full implementation and following of UNCLOS principles andinternational law by the countries having declared their sovereignty in theEast Sea are fundamental requirements for tackling the disputes.
As aspeaker, Nguyen Hong Thao, a professor from the Diplomacy Academy of Vietnam,said Vietnam always supports a flexible approach to settlement of the disputesin accordance with international laws and her legitimate national interests.
Vietnam agrees withthe Permanent Court of Arbitration’s final judgment in 2016 declaring that nofeatures in the Spratly Archipelago could be considered an island and so arenot entitled to a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under UNCLOS,Thao noted.
The countrybacks finding an appropriate zone for joint exploration activities incompliance with UNCLOS and international laws, Thao stressed.-VNA
VNA
