VN joins SPLOS 21 in New York

Leading the Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Lương Minh, the Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the UN reiterated that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is of great significance, creating the most comprehensive legal foundation for sea and ocean-related issues.

The Ambassador emphasized that all activities at sea have to strictly comply with the Convention and respect for full national sovereignty in line with the regulations of the Convention.

Mr. Minh highlighted that recent constant harassments of China against normal exploration and research activities of PetroVietnam in Việt Nam’s exclusive economic zones and continental shelf are subjective behaviors that were well designed.

These moves attempted to turn territorial waters of Việt Nam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction rights into disputed area, seriously violating Việt Nam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction rights and infringing upon basic principles and regulations of the UNCLOS, he added.

The Ambassador also rejected China’s claim on the nine-dotted line in the East Sea, stating that the claim is not based on any international legal basis, especially the UNCLOS.

Mr. Minh reaffirmed Việt Nam’s determination and stance of seriously abiding by the UNCLOS and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in order to build the East Sea into the region of peace, cooperation, friendship and stability.

Sharing the same view with Việt Nam, other ASEAN countries also stressed the need to strictly comply with the UNCLOS; maintain peace, status quo and security in the East Sea; abide by the DOC; and early adopt a multilateral Code of Conduct (COC) for the East Sea./. 

By Hương Giang