Foreign ministers of ASEAN countries and Japan agreed on the importance of freedom of navigation in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) during their virtual meeting on August 3.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended a video conference between his counterparts in ASEAN and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, with issues on the agenda ranging from COVID-19 to the East Sea and Myanmar.

The international community has continuously called on parties concerned to follow international practices and rules, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) amid the complicated developments in the East Sea.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on July 12 issued a statement calling on relevant sides to comply with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling in settling disputes in the East Sea.

The international community has long benefited from the rules-based maritime order, where international law, as reflected in UNCLOS, sets out the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne has affirmed Australia’s position which is guided by principled support for international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam’s stance on the settlement of disputes in the East Sea is clear and consistent, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on July 12.

International researchers and experts while attending a recent teleconference reaffirmed the value of the 2016 ruling on the East Sea by the Permanent Court on Arbitration (PCA).

Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has reaffirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty and legitimate rights over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.

A new tropical depression has appeared in the East Sea (South China Sea) while the current reported one is forecast to develop into a new storm in the next 24 hours, according to the national weather service.

Some of the islands on the Truong Sa archipelago now have ship locks, which are thought of as “common houses” in the middle of the sea that help fishermen avoid storms and also provide fisheries logistics services. 

Spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang on June 24 emphasised Vietnam’s demand for the relevant parties to not take any action that further complicates the situation in the East Sea, 

The 31st Meeting of the States Parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) took place at the UN headquarters in New York from June 21 to 25.

A tropical low-pressure system has developed into a storm, internationally named Koguma, becoming the second hitting the East Sea since the beginning of this year.

The 19th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) was held in China’s Chongqing city on June 7, 

In addition to ensuring maritime safety in the surrounding territorial waters, lighthouses on islands of Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in Truong Sa District of Khanh Hoa province, have also affirmed Vietnam's sovereignty over seas and islands.

At the end of April and early May, the Truong Sa 571 vessel headed out to the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago and the DK1 platform carrying officers and soldiers from the mainland. 

A storm with the international name of Choi-wan has appeared in the central Philippines.

Vietnam requests parties concerned to respect its sovereignty and international law and abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the UNCLOS, Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said.

The island communes of the Truong Sa island district in the central province of Khanh Hoa conducted early voting on May 16 while the election constituency in Truong Sa town will hold its election on May 23, the same date as scheduled.