Closing Ceremony of the 17th International Scientific Conference on the South China Sea

The workshop provided many useful ideas and suggestions to strengthen ASEAN's central role, ensure the implementation of UNCLOS, and consider it an important basis for promoting peace, stability, and development in the region.

On November 4th, the final working day of the 17th International Conference on the South China Sea held in Da Nang city, delegates participated in two discussion sessions on the role of ASEAN and the importance of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The workshop also included two special sessions: a Roundtable Discussion among Ambassadors and a Youth Forum to share diverse perspectives on the situation and developments in the South China Sea; and to seek new ideas for protecting peace and maintaining a rules-based order in the region.

In his opening remarks, Matt Thistlethwaite, Australia's Co-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, affirmed the importance of UNCLOS for peace, stability, and the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

Adherence to international maritime law is a prerequisite for ensuring economic security and promoting national prosperity. Even as the world order undergoes profound changes, Australia remains steadfast in its support of existing international rules and institutions.

During the Roundtable Discussion, diplomatic representatives from the European Union, Canada, Germany, Japan, and Vietnam emphasized the importance of the South China Sea and affirmed that maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is a shared responsibility of the international community.

The delegates unanimously agreed that international law, particularly UNCLOS, is the foundation and the only viable path to resolving maritime issues. Partners outside the region need to fulfill their responsibilities and commitments through concrete actions such as increasing their presence, protecting freedom of navigation, promoting multilateral diplomacy and international cooperation, including cooperation on the development of a blue economy.

Opinions expressed at the seminar suggested that ASEAN's central role is being challenged as it faces numerous regional security issues, including the South China Sea.

ASEAN has helped bring the South China Sea into the framework of regional discussions and cooperation. However, ASEAN also faces some limitations when confronted with increasing great power competition.

The influence and pressure from major powers lead to differences in viewpoints and interests among members, making it difficult for ASEAN to reach consensus on important issues.

Furthermore, some argue that the dispute resolution mechanism within the framework of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) is merely a formality and ineffective in practice.

The 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) was a significant step forward, but it lacked effective enforcement and monitoring mechanisms. The negotiation process for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) was complex and faced many challenges due to the widely differing views of the parties involved regarding the legal nature and scope of application of the document.

During discussions on UNCLOS, the majority of delegates emphasized that UNCLOS is the "Constitution of the Oceans," establishing a fundamental and comprehensive legal framework for maritime activities while providing a basis for responding to new challenges such as climate change and sea-level rise. However, experts pointed out that there are some instances of deliberately exploiting the complexity of the South China Sea dispute to misinterpret and misapply UNCLOS.

In addition, the rapid development of marine technology and changes in climate and natural conditions also pose many new challenges to international law.

On the second day of the conference, scholars proposed numerous solutions to promote peace, stability, and the rule of law at sea. Emphasizing the role of the central mechanism, scholars suggested that ASEAN should strengthen internal solidarity and enhance collective strength to respond to challenges; strengthen cooperation with external partners and other multilateral mechanisms; promote transparency, dialogue, and information sharing to build trust; and establish early warning mechanisms to prevent conflict risks.

Speaking at the closing session, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Director of the Diplomatic Academy, highly appreciated the quality of the discussions at the conference. The exchanges at the conference helped clarify the overall picture in the region, the roles of relevant stakeholders, and the impact of maritime technology, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles on regional maritime security.

The workshop provided many useful ideas and suggestions to strengthen ASEAN's central role, ensure the implementation of UNCLOS, and consider it an important basis for promoting peace, stability, and development in the region.

Dr. Nguyen Hung Son affirmed that in the context of global and regional uncertainties, countries increasingly need dialogue, information sharing, and capacity building to strengthen unity and solidarity.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/be-mac-hoi-thao-khoa-hoc-quoc-te-ve-bien-dong-lan-thu-17-post1074932.vnp