The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a ceremony in Hanoi on November 14 to mark the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Vietnam’s membership of the treaty.

It is necessary to maintain and respect international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the settlement of disputes in the East Sea, Swiss lawyer Pierre Schifferli has said.

As part of the ongoing 11th East Sea International Conference in Hanoi, delegatesattended a special session marking the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the 1982 UNCLOS and 25 years since Vietnam approved the convention.

The East Sea issue was among the focuses of the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) on November 4 afternoon, part of the ongoing 35th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Thailand.

Vietnam will always adhere to principles and goals of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and is willing to join hands with other member countries to foster intra-bloc solidarity and cope with challenges facing the movement.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung attended a Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on October 23.

China’s survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi-8 and its escorts have conducted regular oil exploration activities and expanded operations in the Tu Chinh-Vung May or Vanguard Bank region of Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.

China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei all approved the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS). This Convention prohibits the use of and threat of using force in the settlement of disputes at sea.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh delivered his remarks “Revitalizing multilateralism for sustainable peace and development” at the General Debate of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday. 

Maintaining peace and security in the East Sea and strictly implementing the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is completely in line with China's interests, and with its important role in the international arena.

China’s recent activities in the East Sea are more unilateral and provocation, seriously violating the UNCLOS, said Professor Daisuke Hosokawa at the Osaka University of Economics.

The area of waters and continental shelf in which Vietnam can enjoy the rights for the sea and resources in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is approximately 1 million square kilometers.

Behind China's violations is the intention to control the East Sea through promoting maritime claims that are completely contrary to the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

The Association of People Loving Vietnam in the Republic of Korea (VESAMO) has demanded China immediately stop violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Vietnam in the East Sea.

Vietnam resolutely opposes Chinese survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8’s continued serious violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty right and jurisdiction in territorial waters as defined in the 1982 UNCLOS.

Members of the UNCLOS must adhere to this convention and object to violations of the document, an Australian expert has said while talking about China’s ongoing infringement upon Vietnam’s waters.

Carl Thayer from the University of New South Wales (Australia) made a comment on the return of the Chinese Haiyang 8 infringing on Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

France, Germany and the UK on August 29 released a joint statement expressing their concern about the situation in the East Sea which they said could lead to insecurity and instability in the region.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on August 27 stated that his country opposes any action that intensifies tensions in East Sea.

Vietnam has demanded China to immediately stop violations, withdraw all vessels from Vietnam’s EEZ and not have actions to increase tensions, complicate the situation, and threaten peace, stability and security in the East Sea and the region.