Malaysia's Bernama news agency on July 13 quoted European Union (EU) Special Envoy to Malaysia Luc Vandebon as saying that member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) involved in the East Sea dispute should consider resolving the issue as a bloc rather than individually.

China's land reclamation activities in the East Sea. (Source: CSIS)

Speaking at a press conference on ASEAN-EU relations held at Bernama headquarters on the same day, Mr. Luc Vandebon said that based on the concept of "ten voices are stronger than one," he believes that the disputing countries will benefit more if they approach the issue in this way.

Mr. Vandebon stressed that the EU has good reason to be concerned about developments in the South China Sea as the bloc is actively involved in trade routes with ASEAN. He said that "about 50% of the volume of goods transported by sea passes through the South China Sea and the EU is involved in imports and exports with ASEAN, so of course the EU wants peace and stability in the region."

ASEAN countries involved in overlapping claims in the East Sea include the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, while other parties include China and Taiwan (China).

Regarding ASEAN-EU relations, Ambassador Vandebon said that according to the recent Joint Statement of the European Parliament and the European Council, the EU has agreed to strengthen relations with ASEAN with strategic goals.

Key areas include enhancing connectivity between the two regions, promoting trade, investment and commerce, transport, people-to-people exchanges, moving towards green partnerships for a sustainable future and cooperation on security and political issues. The EU has been a dialogue partner of ASEAN since 1977 and is ASEAN’s third largest trading partner./.

(According to VN+)