WORDS ON THE STREET 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day Vietnam - Asia 2023 Smart City Summit Hanoi celebrates 15 years of administrative boundary adjustment 12th Vietnam-France decentrialized cooperation conference 31st Sea Games - Vietnam 2021 Covid-19 Pandemic
Home / Defend the sovereignty
East Sea issue emerged as a key security challenge
By Anh Kiet 14:39, 2015/12/21
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh made a speech about the tension in the East Sea at a dialogue security challenges in the Asian-Pacific region held recently in New Delhi, India.
The event with the theme “The Asia-Pacific Century: India and Big Power Engagement” drew numerous experts and diplomats from China, the US, Russia and ASEAN member countries. The tension in the East Sea emerged as a key security challenge that could hinder the dream of an Asian-Pacific community.
 
 
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh

In his speech, Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh noted that peace and stability in Southeast Asia, particularly in the East Sea, is an inseparable part of peace and security in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Ambassador voiced his concerns over complicated developments in the East Sea, citing China’s construction of artificial islands on an unprecedented scale in the East Sea as a contributor to worsening the situation there.

This might lead to a new arms race and conflicts due to erroneous calculations, he said, warning that tensions in the East Sea not only threaten security, safety of navigation, aviation and trade, but also reduce strategic trust of the involved parties and widely affect peace, security, development and cooperation in the region. The diplomat called on the involved parties to strictly abide by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to ensure peace, navigation security and freedom in the East Sea .

He confirmed that Vietnam has full legal foundation and historical evidence to prove its sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes. The country is resolved to protect its sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests in the East Sea, he said.

Prof. Baladash Ghoshal from the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) and Profl. GVC Naidu from Jawaharlal Nehru University told Vietnam News Agency correspondents that the East Sea issue has become one of the region’s biggest security challenges. They called for increased cooperation among nations to reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea which is significant to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Ton Sinh Thanh Ambassador also stressed that Vietnam will spare no effort to make the East Sea a place of peace, stability, cooperation and development, as well as settle any disputes via peaceful means and in line with international law. Ensuring peace and stability is the interest and responsibility of countries in and out of the region, he said, adding that Vietnam welcomes constructive engagement of the parties involved to make the dream of an Asian-Pacific community come true.
Other news
18:15, 2024/12/19
Highlights of Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024
A display of defense innovations at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024.
20:04, 2024/12/03
Vietnamese Pho continues to spread its international reach
Pho has followed Vietnamese people around the globe as a traditional dish loved by many foreigners, contributing to honoring the culinary culture of the “S-shaped country”.
17:10, 2024/10/25
Hanoi students honored for creative logo celebrating German-Vietnamese ties
The red, yellow and black logo designed by two students from Hanoi has won the logo design competition to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam.
10:44, 2024/10/06
Vietnam condemns violence by Chinese authorities in Hoang Sa
Vietnam expresses its discontent and vehement objection to the brutal actions of Chinese law enforcement authorities in the Hoang Sa archipelago, which have resulted in Vietnamese fishermen being injured, their lives threatened and their property damaged.
19:03, 2024/09/14
Hanoi set to pilot centralized government services
The centralized building and those of its branches for government services would be equipped with the latest facilities and technologies.
15:15, 2024/09/02
Vietnam National Day: Insights from expats
Vietnam’s glorious history and national pride on National Day has captivated international friends in Hanoi.