Vietnam has underlined the necessary of maintaining peace, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea due to its strategic location, at the 32nd Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS 32).
During the debate on June 16 regarding the United Nations Secretary-General's report on issues related to the seas and oceans, the activities of UN agencies and international cooperation in the past year, the participants emphasized the need to comply with the implementation of UNCLOS, augment regional and international cooperation in the field of seas and oceans, respond to challenges such as marine environmental pollution, climate change, sea level rise, and contribute to the implementation of sustainable development goal 14 related to the conservation and sustainable development of seas and oceans.
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN reaffirms the UNCLOS as the legal framework governing all activities at sea and the only legal basis for determining comprehensively and fully the scope of the maritime entitlements of states.
Regarding the situation in the East Sea, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang said that the peace and development of the region and the international community is closely linked to the maintenance of peace, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea.
The Ambassador underlined the importance of full and comprehensive implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while stressing that all disputes must be resolved through peaceful means, on the basis of respect international law, including the UN Charter and UNCLOS, as well as diplomatic and legal processes, not using force or threatening to use force. This is in addition to providing information regarding progress made in negotiating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
He shared the challenges at sea mentioned in the UN Secretary-General's report, especially the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on ocean issues, including exacerbating many existing or emerging marine problems such as marine biodiversity, migration, climate change and sea level rise.
Giang reiterated the importance of international cooperation on the basis of UNCLOS aimed at dealing with these challenges, and highlighted ASEAN's active contributions to the implementation of Agenda 30 and SDG14 and Vietnam's strong commitments and efforts to combat climate change.
The Vietnamese diplomat highlighted Vietnam's stance on proposing measures to address challenges that should pay due attention to capacity building, technology transfer, financial support for developing countries, and adoption of UN initiatives to promote the application of science and technology in utilizing oceans in a sustainable way.
UNCLOS is considered as the "Constitution of the Oceans", which came into force on November 16, 1994, has been ratified by 168 countries and international organizations and signed by 14 other countries but not yet adopted.