Scholars to talk illegal construction in East Sea

Illegal construction in the East Sea and its impact on regional peace, security, economy and trade will be put on the table at an international seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on July 25.

Over 20 law experts and scholars at home and abroad will attend and present their papers at the event, Professor Mai Hong Quy, Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Law told a press briefing on July 24.

The seminar will provide a scientific forum for participants to analyse and comment on the full picture of illegal construction activities in the East Sea and their impacts on peace, security, economics, trade, maritime and aviation in the region and the world, the professor said.

Professor of International Law Erik Franckx from Vrije Universiteit Brussels, member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, will be among speakers.

According to Prof. Quy, reports sent to the seminar focus on legal matters related to man-made islets and buildings in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as their impacts on regional peace, security, economy and trade.

The seminar is co-organised by the Vietnam Lawyers Association and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law.

The organising board said as seen from the angle of international law, China’s construction of artificial islets in the East Sea completely runs counter to the 1982 UNCLOS and political commitments between China and ASEAN and Vietnam, especially the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

Such actions have seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago and threatened peace, security, economy, trade, maritime and aviation freedom and aviation, scientific studies and marine environment of countries in the region and the world.

VNA