Mr. Mahapatra, Director of the Centre for Asian Strategic Studies - India (CASS - India), in his opening speech at the event, briefed participants on recent developments in the East Sea and tensions concerning China’s militarisation activities in the region. He called on regional countries, including China, to abide by the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague on July 12 on the case the Philippines brought against China’s claims in the East Sea.
At the conference
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Philippine Ambassador to India Maria Teressita C. Daza stressed that her country adheres to the ruling. She called on involved parties to respect verdict, and seek peaceful solutions to the issue in line with international law.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh said Vietnam welcomes the PCA’s ruling and strongly supports the settlement of disputes in the East Sea via peaceful measures, including diplomatic and legal processes, in line with international law in order to maintain regional peace, stability, security, and navigation and overflight safety and freedom in the East Sea.
He reiterated Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence affirming the country’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. The country has sovereignty rights and jurisdiction rights within its exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf as stipulated in the 1982 UNCLOS.
As a member of the UNCLOS, China has gone against the convention’s rules, showing the world that Beijing is not a responsible member as it has ignored international law. Clearly, the PCA’s ruling on the basis of the UNCLOS has affirmed the role of international law in dealing with disputes through peaceful measures, thus contributing to avoiding the use of armed forces.
UNCLOS has so far been recognised by the international community as a significant step forwards in the setting up of an order at sea, therefore, all members of the convention are obliged to fully abide by and implement all regulations and procedures stated in the convention, including those relating to the settlement of related disputes. Unfortunately, in its first reaction to the PCA’s ruling, China showed an ill attitude when announced that it will “neither accept nor acknowledge” the tribunal’s ruling, stating that the ruling is “groundless, valueless and unbinding.”
The East Sea provides one of the most important maritime lanes in the globe and benefits many countries. Therefore, maintaining peace, stability, navigation and over flight security, safety, and freedom in the sea area is the top priority. The parties concerned should display their responsibility in abiding by international law, specifically upholding the supremacy of the rule of law in the East Sea. Every extreme reaction or activities defying international law will fuel tensions and complicate the situation.
