Reaffirming commitment to maintaining peace and freedom of navigation in the East Sea

ASEAN 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 in the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste signed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration “ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future". Photo: Duong Giang-VNA

According to a VNA correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, ASEAN leaders have reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to maintaining peace , stability and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, amid growing concerns about maritime tensions in the region.

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.

"We reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea," the statement said, stressing the importance of promoting mutual trust and confidence 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, and in accordance with internationally recognized laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“We reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability,” the statement said.

The regional group also stressed the need to avoid the threat or use of force and to maintain the integrity of international law as a guiding framework in all efforts to manage tensions and disputes in the maritime domain.

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.

ASEAN welcomes 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 confidence-building and preventive measures to promote greater trust and transparency among parties involved 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./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tai-khang-dinh-cam-ket-duy-tri-hoa-binh-va-tu-do-hang-hai-o-bien-dong-post1041160.vnp