Upholding international law in resolving the South China Sea issue.

The 20th Annual Meeting of the Asian Law Institute (ASLI), themed “ Inclusiveness and Diversity of Asian Law,” was held at the National University of Singapore from May 31 to June 1, with the participation of over 600 delegates representing leading legal organizations and experts from across the continent and internationally.

During the discussion on the South China Sea, scholars shared their views on pressing issues that are challenging international law, as well as the efforts of the countries involved to address them, such as the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the competition for influence among major powers in Southeast Asia.

Upholding international law in resolving the South China Sea issue - 1 — The 20th Annual Meeting of the Asian Law Institute (ASLI) was held at the National University of Singapore from May 31 to June 1.

The discussions assessed that the Indo- Pacific region, home to more than half the world's population, possesses abundant natural resources and numerous vital sea lanes, making it immensely important for global trade and increasingly crucial in shaping the 21st-century world order. However, persistent conflicts and disputes, particularly those in the South China Sea, pose significant risks of instability and are not easily resolved.

Experts attending the workshop affirmed that UNCLOS and the 2016 ruling of the PCA Arbitration Tribunal are the most solid and important legal foundations for resolving disputes in the South China Sea. Countries in the South China Sea region need to exercise restraint, respect international law, and strive to resolve conflicts peacefully based on international law, especially UNCLOS 1982, and accelerate the negotiation process of the Code of Conduct (COC).

According to experts, only positive negotiations based on international law and mutual respect, taking into account the harmonious interests of all parties, while promoting trust and strengthening cooperation towards a long-term future, are the best measures for resolving conflicts and protecting peace, security, and stability in the region and the world .

In his concluding remarks at the seminar, Dr. Jacques deLisle (University of Pennsylvania, USA) assessed that recent developments show that international structures, especially in the political and security fields, are changing rapidly. Old structures are losing their former meaning and role, while new structures are gradually forming.

The Indo-Pacific region is increasingly demonstrating its importance and attracting more global attention, as evidenced by a series of Indo-Pacific strategies issued in recent years.

In this region, one of the central conflicts is the dispute in the South China Sea. Respecting international law and striving for the peaceful resolution of these disputes is significant not only for the region but also for the world.

Hai Khanh

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