ASEAN Summit Emphasizes Commitment to Maintaining Peace and Freedom of Navigation in the East Sea

Within the framework of the 46th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders and partners, including China and the GCC, reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste attend the plenary session of the 46th ASEAN Summit on May 26. (Source: VGP)

In the Chairman’s Statement issued on May 28 after the conclusion of the 46th ASEAN Summit with the theme “Inclusive and Sustainable”, the leaders reiterated the need to maintain a rules-based regional order and called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any activities that could escalate disputes or threaten peace and stability in the disputed waters.

The statement said: "We reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," and stressed the importance of promoting trust among relevant parties.

ASEAN leaders called on all parties to avoid provocative actions that may further complicate the situation and instead pursue peaceful means to resolve disputes, fully respect legal and diplomatic processes, in accordance with internationally recognized laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In addition, ASEAN leaders stressed the importance of fully implementing the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which serves as a political commitment to avoid tense actions and resolve disputes through dialogue.

At the same time, ASEAN welcomed the progress made in the ongoing negotiations towards the long-awaited Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

“We welcome the progress in the ongoing negotiations on the COC,” the ASEAN leaders noted, adding that the bloc remains committed to the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

ASEAN welcomed practical measures to reduce tensions at sea and reduce the risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculations. The Leaders reaffirmed the importance of implementing preventive and confidence-building measures to promote greater trust and transparency among stakeholders in the South China Sea.

The Statement concluded by reaffirming ASEAN’s long-standing position on the need to uphold and respect international law, in particular the 1982 UNCLOS, as the common legal framework governing the world’s oceans and maritime conduct.

The Chairman's Statement has 139 items, the ASEAN statement on the East Sea issue is included in the content of Regional and international issues.

At the second ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, leaders also affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability, ensuring maritime security, promoting peaceful solutions to disputes on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS 1982, and promoting cooperation in responding to non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, cyber security, and transnational crime.

In addition, within the framework of the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit, the leaders also affirmed the importance of peacefully resolving disputes on the basis of international law, ensuring maritime security, promoting the value of dialogue, cooperation, and building trust together.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoi-nghi-cap-cao-asean-nhan-manh-cam-ket-duy-tri-hoa-binh-va-tu-do-hang-hai-o-bien-dong-315816.html