Vietnam's stance welcomed at Shangri-La Dialogue

In an interview with a VNA reporter in Singapore at the end of the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue, General Phung Quang Thanh, Politburo member, Minister of National Defense, Head of the high-ranking military delegation of Vietnam attending the Dialogue, said: Vietnam's stance on the East Sea issue was shared and welcomed at the Conference.

Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh answers questions after the conclusion of the 13th Shangri La Dialogue on June 1. Photo:

Minister Phung Quang Thanh said that the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue is of great significance in the context of the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Besides great advantages and great opportunities, there have also been many hot spots in North Africa, the Middle East, Ukraine, the Asia-Pacific region, specifically the Korean Peninsula, the East Sea and the East China Sea; major powers with global and regional strategies.

At the same time, the US rebalancing strategy in this region also has many different views. Some countries think it is necessary, but others think it will cause controversy, strategic disputes, and disputes about geostrategic influence in the region.

Therefore, this Shangri-La Dialogue is the place and time for countries to express and share their views and information about their situation and policies, build trust, seek cooperative solutions, especially cooperation in the field of defense to maintain peace and stability, avoid confrontation, reduce tension, enhance cooperation, and avoid misunderstandings and conflicts to build a common peaceful environment and develop the socio-economy of the countries.

According to Minister Phung Quang Thanh, one of the most concerned issues at the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue is the East Sea issue, because this is an area with international shipping routes that create exchanges and trade activities that are very important to economies.

If security here is not guaranteed, it will affect all countries in the region as well as many countries in the world.

Currently, when the situation in the East Sea is unstable, all countries have expressed their concerns and desire to maintain a peaceful and stable environment in the East Sea, and hope that the parties will resolve the issue by peaceful means, international law, the Convention on the Law of the Sea, DOC and move towards building a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China.

Minister Phung Quang Thanh affirmed Vietnam's stance and requested that countries respect the law, not take unilateral actions, create fait accomplis or use force to resolve disputes over territorial sovereignty.

Regarding the contribution of the Vietnamese delegation at the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue, Minister Phung Quang Thanh said: "In this dialogue, the Vietnamese delegation was invited by the organizing committee to speak on the topic "Managing strategic tensions." We shared common perceptions on how to manage strategic tensions."

The Minister said: "We have informed in an official, objective, honest and timely manner so that politicians, scholars and international media agencies know the current situation in the East Sea after China illegally placed the Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Our consistent policy is to resolve the issue through dialogue and peaceful means, especially international law, the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the DOC.

We exercise utmost restraint, do not use force or threaten to use force. We use law enforcement forces and fishing vessels to coordinate in the struggle to protect our sovereignty, and we are trying to seek a resolution to this tension through dialogue with China's senior leaders.

This steadfast stance of Vietnam was shared, welcomed and agreed upon by other countries at the Conference, General Phung Quang Thanh shared.

According to the General, all countries agree on self-restraint, must use international law, maritime law and DOC, not use force or conflict, because if conflict occurs, it will be a disaster for the whole region, affecting trade, maritime and aviation activities, and the common economy of the countries, something that many countries are very concerned about.

According to VNA/Vietnam+