Vietnam verifies information on high radioactive concentrations in Bien Dong Sea
	China’s military bases in South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea) vulnerable to be attacked: report
	China’s amphibious assault ship sails into the South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea)

Warships of Australia, the US, and Japan conduct a drill in the Philippine Sea, near the East Sea in July, 2020. Photo: US Navy

Not only countries in the region, but many outside the region have spoken up as members of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), VOV said.

The South China Sea is not simply a matter between ASEAN and China but a matter of international concern.

The world has witnessed a "war of diplomatic notes" related to the South China Sea starting with Malaysia's submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf last December information on the limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Subsequently, many other countries sent notes and letters protesting China's actions in the South China Sea.

Note diplomacy

Bui Thanh Son, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaks at the 12th International Conference on the East Sea (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam)

In September, Britain, France, and Germany sent notes to the UN expressing their common view on the South China Sea, emphasizing UNCLOS 1982 as establishing a legal framework for maritime activities worldwide. Jointly supporting freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, the note is specific about the right of innocent passage through territorial waters.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, the US, and Australia all sent notes opposing China's arguments. To date, there have been more than 20 diplomatic notes and statements from countries all over the world.

The notes condemned China's claims, saying the so-called "9-dashed line" is contrary to international law and UNCLOS. They affirmed that UNCLOS is an important legal document, which plays a fundamental role in solving maritime problems and that the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling is an important part of international law and UNCLOS that China should respect.

Towards South China Sea security and safety

A Vietnamese naval soldier on Da Lat Island, Truong Sa archipelago. Photo: VNA

The use of notes shows that countries have focused on international law, especially UNCLOS as a basis to settle disputes rather than taking actions that may trigger confrontation or a military conflict.

The South China Sea issue has been addressed frequently at regional and global forums: the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Defense Minister Meeting (ADMM), and the ASEAN Defense Minister Meeting Plus (ADMM +) to the G20 Summit and the Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM).

All countries desire peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, non-militarization, and restraint from complications and tensions, and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law including UNCLOS. Countries support full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and early completion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

A safe, secure and prosperous South China Sea is what countries are aiming for. Recent developments suggest that the world can hope for a more peaceful and stable South China Sea in 2021./.

China’s exercises in western part of the Leizhou Peninsula unrelated to Vietnam’s waters: foreign ministry spokesperson China’s exercises in the western part of the Leizhou Peninsula from November 17-30 do not affect Vietnam’s waters.

Maintaining Bien Dong Sea (South China Sea) peace, stability a must, FM spokesperson Maintaining peace and stability in the Bien Dong Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) is of primary concern for ASEAN and its partners ...

China's Coast Guard bill, a hot topic at South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea) International Conference At the 12th South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea) International Conference on November 17, the delegates discussed a number of burning issues such as China's ...