The seminar themed “Legal aspects regarding the incident of China’s placement of oil rig Hiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf” was co-hosted by the Vietnam Lawyers' Association (VLA) and HCM City University of Law on July 26, attracting 50 international law experts.
Scholars affirmed that the East Sea is an international maritime artery and has a particularly important geo-political position not only for regional countries but the wider world. Therefore, maintaining a stable environment, cooperation and development in the East Sea is an obligation of all regional nations and is an important factor in ensuring security and freedom of navigation, aviation and international trade.
China’s placement of its drilling platform 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf has promoted joint efforts for concerned parties to work together on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to resolve the disputes peacefully.
Judging from objective and scientific analyses, scholars shed light on international legal issues relating to the incident. They performed in-depth analysis on regulations of international legal documents relating to the peaceful settlement of international disputes through political and diplomatic measures.
They also discussed the possibility of applying legal measures to resolve the current disputes as well as conditions and lawsuit mechanisms, and legal values of judgement of international court and arbitration on the issue.
Professor Dr. Mai Hong Quy, HCM City University of Law Rector said: "China’s illegal stationing of its oil rig 981 in Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf has clearly put forth political and legal issues. The scholars more or less mentioned ramifications of human rights, the legitimate rights of fishermen and the way China dealt with. Consequently, it is needed to have answers for questions that concern all Vietnamese people.”
