The East Sea issue is a regional and global concern, Deputy DefenceMinister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh told the Vietnam NewsAgency on May 30, on the sidelines of the 14th Shangri-la Dialoguein Singapore.
He said while the issue hasattracted the concern of many countries ever since the Shangri-LaDialogue in 2010, this year there is a slightly difference in theapproach for many reason, first of all the many reports on the change ofstatus-quo on the East Sea, adding that just several days before thedialogue, it was also reported that China has taken the first step inmilitarizing artificial islands that the country was building illegallyin the East Sea.
The deputy minister noted thatduring the Shangri-La Dialogue, almost all opinions, including thosedirectly presented at the dialogue or at sideline meetings, mentionedthe East Sea issue.
Participating parties were concernedabout conflicts, violation of international law and big countries’unfair behaviour towards small nations, he said, adding that allopinions expressed desires for an appropriate measure to prevent morecomplicated and serious developments from happening in the East Sea.
According to the officer, along with hope for peace and stability,participants put forward solutions along the general direction ofseeking appropriate behaviours, ensuring no wrongful calculation, noinfringement of international law and particularly preventing conflictsfrom arising.
He said all opinions called for a substantive Codeof Conduct (COC), which should be able to ensure observance ofinternational law and respect for the rights and interests of relevantcountries.
“The general direction of the region and theworld is similar to Vietnam’s basic viewpoint on the issue, whichunderlined the need to address all disputes by peaceful measures, on thebasis of equality and mutual respect, and in line with internationallaw, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) andthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), whiletogether with the ASEAN and China striving for the COC”, the deputydefence minister said.
This year’s Shangri-Ladialogue offered a venue for participants to discuss regional security,both traditional and non-traditional challenges, the minister said,stressing that all countries attending the dialogue wanted to contributetheir opinions on ways to reduce security threats, with many voicescalling for shifting from dialogue and talks to practical cooperationamong countries in the Asian Pacific region, thus making the region morestable and peaceful.
Regarding Vietnam’sparticipant at the event, he said although not delivering a speech atthe dialogue, the Vietnamese delegation paid close attention to thevoice of all participants in various fields.
Besides, the delegation had a number of bilateral meetings on thesidelines of the event to discuss emerging issues, including strategyand interference of world powers and the East Sea matter, hesaid.
Through the meetings, Vietnam got a betterunderstanding about general trends in the region, while expressing theofficial views of the Party and State on current regional andinternational issues.
At the same time,Vietnam also focused on fostering bilateral partnership at themeetings, as well as specific measures to bolster ties with othercountries, said Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vinh.
Herevealed that during talks with China, the two sides discussed ways torealise commitments by the two Defence Ministers at their recent defenceexchange, as well as a number of issues related to cooperation inpersonnel training and peace-keeping operation.
The two sides also looked at preparations for a defence dialogue atdeputy ministerial level in Hanoi in September this year, which aims tostrengthen bilateral relations and settle existing differences,especially maritime issues, he noted.
Vietnamhas discussed with the Chinese side in a straightforward and honestmanner the country’s concerns relating to the East Sea, while makingconstructive recommendations on how to avoid escalating tension, deputyminister Vinh said.
He went on to say thatVietnam has stressed that the East Sea issue should be settled on thebasis of international law, and each side must well control their ownbehaviours, and the Chinese side has taken note of Vietnam’s stance.
Meanwhile, the bilateral meeting with thePhilippine delegation took place at a remarkable time when navalsoldiers of the two countries were playing friendship volleyball matchesin Song Tu Tay island in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, which,according to Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vinh, demonstrated that the militaries ofboth countries have maintained friendship even when they both claimsovereignty over Truong Sa.
During othermeetings, the Vietnamese delegation reiterated the Party and State’sstance on East Sea issue, affirming that Vietnam stays steady in mattersof principle, but is also practicing utmost restraint and avoidingactions to complicate the situation, the deputy defence minister said.-VNA
He said while the issue hasattracted the concern of many countries ever since the Shangri-LaDialogue in 2010, this year there is a slightly difference in theapproach for many reason, first of all the many reports on the change ofstatus-quo on the East Sea, adding that just several days before thedialogue, it was also reported that China has taken the first step inmilitarizing artificial islands that the country was building illegallyin the East Sea.
The deputy minister noted thatduring the Shangri-La Dialogue, almost all opinions, including thosedirectly presented at the dialogue or at sideline meetings, mentionedthe East Sea issue.
Participating parties were concernedabout conflicts, violation of international law and big countries’unfair behaviour towards small nations, he said, adding that allopinions expressed desires for an appropriate measure to prevent morecomplicated and serious developments from happening in the East Sea.
According to the officer, along with hope for peace and stability,participants put forward solutions along the general direction ofseeking appropriate behaviours, ensuring no wrongful calculation, noinfringement of international law and particularly preventing conflictsfrom arising.
He said all opinions called for a substantive Codeof Conduct (COC), which should be able to ensure observance ofinternational law and respect for the rights and interests of relevantcountries.
“The general direction of the region and theworld is similar to Vietnam’s basic viewpoint on the issue, whichunderlined the need to address all disputes by peaceful measures, on thebasis of equality and mutual respect, and in line with internationallaw, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) andthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), whiletogether with the ASEAN and China striving for the COC”, the deputydefence minister said.
This year’s Shangri-Ladialogue offered a venue for participants to discuss regional security,both traditional and non-traditional challenges, the minister said,stressing that all countries attending the dialogue wanted to contributetheir opinions on ways to reduce security threats, with many voicescalling for shifting from dialogue and talks to practical cooperationamong countries in the Asian Pacific region, thus making the region morestable and peaceful.
Regarding Vietnam’sparticipant at the event, he said although not delivering a speech atthe dialogue, the Vietnamese delegation paid close attention to thevoice of all participants in various fields.
Besides, the delegation had a number of bilateral meetings on thesidelines of the event to discuss emerging issues, including strategyand interference of world powers and the East Sea matter, hesaid.
Through the meetings, Vietnam got a betterunderstanding about general trends in the region, while expressing theofficial views of the Party and State on current regional andinternational issues.
At the same time,Vietnam also focused on fostering bilateral partnership at themeetings, as well as specific measures to bolster ties with othercountries, said Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vinh.
Herevealed that during talks with China, the two sides discussed ways torealise commitments by the two Defence Ministers at their recent defenceexchange, as well as a number of issues related to cooperation inpersonnel training and peace-keeping operation.
The two sides also looked at preparations for a defence dialogue atdeputy ministerial level in Hanoi in September this year, which aims tostrengthen bilateral relations and settle existing differences,especially maritime issues, he noted.
Vietnamhas discussed with the Chinese side in a straightforward and honestmanner the country’s concerns relating to the East Sea, while makingconstructive recommendations on how to avoid escalating tension, deputyminister Vinh said.
He went on to say thatVietnam has stressed that the East Sea issue should be settled on thebasis of international law, and each side must well control their ownbehaviours, and the Chinese side has taken note of Vietnam’s stance.
Meanwhile, the bilateral meeting with thePhilippine delegation took place at a remarkable time when navalsoldiers of the two countries were playing friendship volleyball matchesin Song Tu Tay island in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, which,according to Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vinh, demonstrated that the militaries ofboth countries have maintained friendship even when they both claimsovereignty over Truong Sa.
During othermeetings, the Vietnamese delegation reiterated the Party and State’sstance on East Sea issue, affirming that Vietnam stays steady in mattersof principle, but is also practicing utmost restraint and avoidingactions to complicate the situation, the deputy defence minister said.-VNA
