Vietnam continues to protest China at UNCLOS Conference

At the 24th meeting of member states of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York (USA), Vietnam continued to voice its opposition to China's placement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig deep in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and called on UNCLOS member states to oppose China's unilateral actions that cause tension in the East Sea.

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung led the Vietnamese delegation at the conference.

In his speech at the plenary session of the conference on June 13, Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, highlighted the position and role of UNCLOS as a “Charter for the Oceans” and the result of the efforts of the entire international community in building a reasonable and equitable international legal order for the use, exploitation, management and sustainable development of seas and oceans.

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung pointed out that over the years, Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member of the Convention, seriously implementing the provisions of the Convention and making efforts to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea - a sea area of ​​great significance not only in terms of economy and development for coastal countries but also in terms of transportation and trade for countries outside the region.

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung informed the conference of a "serious development" in the East Sea, which was China illegally placing the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig deep in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and mobilizing hundreds of escort ships, including military ships and aircraft, to collide with and spray water cannons at Vietnamese civilian ships, even sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat with 10 fishermen on board while the boat was conducting normal fishing activities in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone.

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung emphasized: "Vietnam has had over 30 meetings at all levels and through different channels to request China to immediately withdraw the drilling rig and escort ships to create a favorable environment for dialogue. Up to now, China has not only failed to respond positively to Vietnam's requests as well as the calls of the international community, but has also continued its above-mentioned wrongdoings.

On this occasion, Vietnam once again demands that China immediately withdraw the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig and escort vessels from Vietnam's waters and resolve disputes through negotiations or other peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."

Also in his speech, Ambassador Le Hoai Trung highly appreciated the international community's concern for the current tense situation in the East Sea, and called on the international community, including members of UNCLOS, to continue to pay attention to the situation in the East Sea, oppose unilateral actions that cause tension, and support the non-use or threat of force and the settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.

During the discussion, the Vietnamese delegation once again affirmed Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, continued to point out the illegality of placing the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf; and at the same time rejected China's incorrect and distorted views presented at the conference.

At the conference, many countries, including Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, etc., also expressed their concerns about the complicated developments in the East Sea, calling on parties to exercise restraint, not to threaten or use force, and to resolve disputes through peaceful measures in accordance with international law and UNCLOS, while requesting parties to seriously comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and promptly conclude negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The 24th Conference of the States Parties to UNCLOS took place from June 9-13 at the United Nations headquarters in New York (USA). The conference was attended by 159/166 States Parties to the Convention.

The conference considered and adopted the report on the activities in 2013 of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Seabed Authority and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf - three bodies established under the provisions of the Convention.

Member states also elected seven judges of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the 2014-2021 term and one member of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

According to Vietnam+