VN continues lodging protest against China at UN

VGP – Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations on June 13 in New York delivered remarks at the plenary session of the 24th meeting of the States-Parties to the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

June 14, 2014 8:37 PM GMT+7

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung at the 24th meeting of States-Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea - Photo: VNA

In his remarks, Ambassador gave prominence to the UNCLOS as the Constitution for the oceans, which embodies the efforts of the international community in building an equitable international legal order for using, exploiting, managing and developing seas and oceans in a sustainable way.

Over the past years, Viet Nam has seriously complied with the provisions of the Convention and made great efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, the diplomat affirmed.

Mr. Trung also briefed the developments in the East Sea after China illegally placed the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 deep into Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

China also deployed hundreds of ships, including military ones and planes, to guard the illicit rig. Chinese ships intentionally rammed and fired water cannons at Vietnamese civilian vessels and even sank a Vietnamese fishing boat with ten persons on board right in Viet Nam’s waters.

Ambassador Trung took the occasion to once again demand China immediately withdraw the rig and escort ships from Viet Nam’s waters and settle the issue through negotiations and peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the UNCLOS.

He called on the international community, including members of the UNCLOS, to continue voicing their protest against unilateral actions and advocating the non-use or threat of use of force in the East Sea and settlement of the East Sea issue in line with international law.

Ambassador Trung also rejected distorted opinions presented by China at the meeting.

At the meeting, a number of countries, including Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia voiced their concern over the complicated developments in the East Sea, calling on relevant parties to exercise self-restraint, seriously abide by international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and quickly work towards to the conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

By Quang Minh