Vietnam stresses the importance of maritime and aviation security in South China Sea at ADSOM+

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PHNOM PENH, May 19 (Bernama): Maritime and aviation security and safety in the South China Sea is extremely important for countries in the region and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), said Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Sen Lieut Gen Hoang Xuan Chien.

Speaking at the Asean Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM+) in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, he stressed the need to comply with the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and accelerate the early signing of a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Vietnam consistently pursues resolving disputes at sea by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Vietnam News Agency (VNA) quoted Chien as saying.

Besides emerging non-traditional security challenges, there have been new, complicated developments regarding traditional security issues, he said.

Given that context, Chien emphasised that Vietnam has always been steadfast in its external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralisation and diversification of relations.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation expressed his wish for countries to settle conflicts and disagreements by peaceful means, on the basis of respecting international law and the United Nations Charter as well as Asean's basic principles.

The meeting, chaired by Cambodia, drew top defence officials from Asean member countries, and Russia, China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India as well as representatives from the Asean Secretariat. - Bernama