Leading experts and scholars from US universities and institutes cametogether at a workshop in Washington last weekend to discuss theconvergence of marine science and geopolitics in the East Sea.
Looking at recent geopolitical developments in the East Sea,participants expressed their concerns over large-scale construction andexpansion on reefs, saying this could seriously harm the naturalenvironment and complex marine ecosystem in the sea.
John McManus, professor of marine biology and fisheries, and Directorof the National Centre for Coral Reef Research at the University ofMiami, highlighted the serious impacts of these efforts on the marineenvironment in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, particularly thedelicate coral reefs and diverse species of animals.
Unregulated fishing in the East Sea is also alarming, he stated.
He proposed the establishment of a “Marine Peace Park” on Truong Sa,conserving the status quo and abandoning the large-scale construction ofislands.
Controlling activities that impactnegatively on the marine environment should also be included in thenegotiation process of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, he added.
Meanwhile, James Borton, former correspondent for the WashingtonTimes and writing tutor at the English and Marine Science Departments atthe Coastal Carolina University, said that China’s acceleration ofconflicts with neighbouring countries over the East Sea could cause anenvironmental catastrophe, affecting the freedom of navigation and thefisheries sector, and threatening ecosystems and one of the world’s moststunning coral systems.
According to Borton,China’s reef construction and expansion project is in direct violationof the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).Furthermore, its fishing activities are damaging the natural environmentin the East Sea, especially after the deployment of a fleet of up to 30fishing vessels, including a 3,000-tonne processing ship, to the sea in2012.
He suggested setting up a multilateralcommittee for a green East Sea with the involvement and support of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while calling upon allconcerned countries to exercise self restraint and address differencesvia peaceful dialogue and in line with international law.-VNA
Looking at recent geopolitical developments in the East Sea,participants expressed their concerns over large-scale construction andexpansion on reefs, saying this could seriously harm the naturalenvironment and complex marine ecosystem in the sea.
John McManus, professor of marine biology and fisheries, and Directorof the National Centre for Coral Reef Research at the University ofMiami, highlighted the serious impacts of these efforts on the marineenvironment in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, particularly thedelicate coral reefs and diverse species of animals.
Unregulated fishing in the East Sea is also alarming, he stated.
He proposed the establishment of a “Marine Peace Park” on Truong Sa,conserving the status quo and abandoning the large-scale construction ofislands.
Controlling activities that impactnegatively on the marine environment should also be included in thenegotiation process of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, he added.
Meanwhile, James Borton, former correspondent for the WashingtonTimes and writing tutor at the English and Marine Science Departments atthe Coastal Carolina University, said that China’s acceleration ofconflicts with neighbouring countries over the East Sea could cause anenvironmental catastrophe, affecting the freedom of navigation and thefisheries sector, and threatening ecosystems and one of the world’s moststunning coral systems.
According to Borton,China’s reef construction and expansion project is in direct violationof the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).Furthermore, its fishing activities are damaging the natural environmentin the East Sea, especially after the deployment of a fleet of up to 30fishing vessels, including a 3,000-tonne processing ship, to the sea in2012.
He suggested setting up a multilateralcommittee for a green East Sea with the involvement and support of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while calling upon allconcerned countries to exercise self restraint and address differencesvia peaceful dialogue and in line with international law.-VNA
