Bangkok (VNA) – Aninternational seminar on defence strategies and regional security in Asia - Pacifictook place in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 28 and 29.

Organised by the German - Southeast AsianCenter of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG) under the ThaiThammasat University, the seminar gathered scholars, political experts,diplomats and policy-makers in Thailand and other countries, such as the UnitedStates, Japan, China, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam.

In his speech opening the seminar, CPGDirector Henning Glaser presented an overview on security challenges facing theAsia - Pacific, saying the East Sea issue is the biggest challenge withfar-reaching implications on peace as well as the security and safety ofnavigation and overflight in the region.

He noted that the region’s securityenvironment contains various risks due to the rising trend of arms races, acuteterritorial disputes and disrespect for international law.

These risks need to be countered usingpeaceful measures, based on the common benefits of all countries andinternational law, Henning Glaser stressed.

The event featured 8 sessions with 10presentations, focusing on defence strategies of powers in the region as wellas the impacts of regional hotbeds of conflict, such as the East Sea and EastAsia.

Other topics of discussion included the stancesof the United States, Japan and India regarding regional security issues,particularly the East Sea issue after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)in The Hague, the Netherlands, rejected China’s claim on the waters.

Participants also shared their views on cooperationwithin the ASEAN and between the bloc and the world powers, the US policy onthe Asia Pacific under Donald Trump’s administration and its influence on theEast Sea issue.

Sharing the view that the East Sea issue isthe biggest challenge for peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region,Professor Klaus Larres from the US’s Institute for Advanced Study said the PCAruling has changed the situation in the East Sea.

He expressed his concern over China’srejection of the ruling and increasing militarization in the waters, andstressed that regional peace can only be achieved through active cooperation ofcountries involved.

Major General Ashok Hukku, former ChiefMilitary Intelligence Advisor at the Cabinet Secretariat of India, took note ofthe strategic and economic values of the East Sea area and the freedom ofnavigation and overflight as well as trade on the waters.

He said India is implementing its “Act EastPolicy”, boosting cooperation with related countries to contribute to enhancingpeace and security in Asia Pacific on the basis of international law andcommitments.

Dr Nguyen Toan Thang from the Hanoi LawUniversity said the East Sea issue is one of the most complicated problems ininternational relations, and Vietnam, as a nation with related rights andinterests on the waters, has combined diplomatic and legal measures to protectits interests in the waters.

Thang stated that Vietnam has sovereignty right and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone(EEZ) in the East Sea and it requests other countries respect the EEZ in linewith the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam’s stance is concerned sides shouldsettle disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures and in line withinternational law, including the UNCLOS.

He called on sides involved to restrainthemselves, not to use force or threat to use force, and not to take unilateralactions or militarization to deal with such disputes.

Thang urged concerned sides to respect theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea and refrain fromactions that complicate the East Sea issue.

China and ASEAN should try to early achievea Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea, he said, calling on all countries tomake contributions to maintaining peace, stability and law on the sea andoceans.

The recommendations and suggestions ofparticipants will be sent to international  political research institutes and centres.-VNA