ASEAN FMs voice deep concern over East Sea issue

The 48th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumper, Malaysia, August 4, 2015.

They said that the developments erode trust, intensify tensions, and threaten peace, stability and security in the East Sea.

The FMs agreed on the need to further enhance solidarity, responsibility and role of ASEAN in addressing the East Sea issue.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh urged ASEAN to promote its active role and sense of responsibility, strengthen solidarity, and push relevant parties to comply with the common principles agreed by themselves, particularly the principles on restraint, not using or threatening to use force, and handling all disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law—especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) – particularly Article 5, while working towards the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Regarding ASEAN Community building, Deputy PM, FM Minh said that the establishment of the ASEAN Community is a strategic move, reflecting the necessity to enhance ASEAN and regional connectivity for the interest of peace, stability, development and people in the region.

He called on ASEAN member countries to make more efforts and steer more resources for realizing the rest lines of actions in all the three pillars, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, the second phase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration while expanding relations with its partners, enhancing the central role of ASEAN, especially in ensuring peace and security in the region and in settling effectively security challenges, including the complicated situation in the East Sea.

By Huong Giang