Asia-Pacific ambassadors in Belgium touch upon East Sea issue
VGP - The recent development in the East Sea was one of the topics for discussion at a meeting between ambassadors from the Asia-Pacific region in Belgium on June 17.
June 18, 2014 5:01 PM GMT+7
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Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau briefed the diplomats on the fresh developments relating to China’s illegal placement of the drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou - 981 in Viet Nam’s continental shelf, which has gone against the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea that China signed with ASEAN.
Ambassadors expressed their deep concerns over the tension in the East Sea and hoped all parties concerned will settle the disputes though peaceful means in line with international law, to ensure security and safety of navigation in the region.
Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders said he hopes both sides will pursue negotiations to seek the optimal solutions to the issue.
Since early May, China has illegally operated the rig and a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft in Viet Nam’s waters.
Despite Viet Nam’s protests, China has expanded its scale of operation and recently moved the rig to 15 degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 11 seconds east longitude, which is 60 nautical miles deep inside Viet Nam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.
According to the Viet Nam Fisheries Surveillance force, China on June 17 maintained 136 ships, including five battleships, surrounding the rig. They kept on circling and standing ready to ram Vietnamese vessels, while approaching them as close as 30 metres.-VNA
