Countries need to 'match words with actions' on the South China Sea issue.

On May 17th, the 20th ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (SOM-DOC) took place in Ha Long ( Quang Ninh ).

Prior to this, ASEAN countries held a meeting to coordinate their positions. Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of Vietnam's ASEAN SOM, led the Vietnamese delegation to the meetings.

Delegates attending the conference

This SOM-DOC meeting was held after nearly two years of interruption. The participating countries reaffirmed the value and importance of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) for the region. Accordingly, they highly appreciated several positive results in the implementation of the DOC in the past period, despite the region being profoundly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and noted that many specific cooperation activities have been implemented effectively and on schedule.

Furthermore, the countries also shared concerns about some complex developments in the South China Sea in recent times, which have eroded trust, increased tensions, and affected the legitimate rights and interests of the countries bordering the South China Sea. Therefore, the countries emphasized that ASEAN and China need to seriously, effectively, and fully implement all the provisions of the DOC.

At the same time, we reaffirm the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. We respect principles such as restraint, refraining from the use or threat of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The SOM-DOC meeting noted progress in the COC negotiations and exchanged views on the direction for the COC negotiation process being carried out by the Joint Working Group on DOC (JWG DOC).

The countries also emphasized the need to achieve an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) that is consistent with international law and UNCLOS 1982, contributing to building trust, confidence, and more effective management of incidents in the South China Sea.

Speaking at the conference, Ambassador Vu Ho emphasized that the South China Sea is a vital maritime route for the world ; therefore, maintaining and promoting peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in this sea region is not only a common interest and responsibility of ASEAN and China, but also reflects the responsibility of both sides towards the international community.

Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of Vietnam's ASEAN SOM, delivered a speech at the conference.

Given the complex situation in the South China Sea and the continued unilateral actions violating international law, Ambassador Vu Ho suggested that countries should practice what they preach, transforming political commitments into concrete and appropriate actions on the ground.

In that spirit, Ambassador Vu Ho emphasized the need to use the provisions of international law and UNCLOS as a "guiding principle" for activities in the South China Sea.

While intensifying efforts to achieve a substantive, effective, and internationally compliant Code of Conduct (COC) supported by the international community, countries need to strictly and fully implement all provisions of the Declaration of Conduct (DOC). This effort will also contribute to creating a favorable environment for the COC negotiation process.

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