Vietnam- Responsible Member of 1982 UNCLOS

Over the past 40 years, Vietnam has affirmed itself as a responsible member of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and has always respected and observed international law.
December 09, 2022 | 08:22
Vietnam- Responsible Member of 1982 UNCLOS
Ratified by 168 parties, UNCLOS has truly become a legal document of leading importance. Photo: Unclos.jpg

An international conference was held in Hanoi on December 8 to mark 40 years since the adoption of the 1982 UNCLOS, Nhan dan (People) newspaper reported.

The hybrid event, held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by 150 delegates from ministries, sectors, coastal localities, and representative bodies of ASEAN countries in Vietnam.

In his remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu said having been ratified by 168 parties, UNCLOS has truly become a legal document of leading importance, only after the UN Charter, and a “constitution of the seas and oceans”.

The convention formed a comprehensive and full international legal framework that regulates the rights and obligations of all states, no matter whether it is coastal or landlocked, in the use of the seas and the management, exploitation, and conservation of marine resources, he noted.

UNCLOS is a comprehensive international legal cornerstone for identifying sea areas, sovereignty, sovereign right, and jurisdiction over sea areas, and for conducting activities at sea. It also stipulates compulsory dispute settlement mechanisms to peacefully resolve differences relevant to the interpretation and application of UNCLOS among countries, according to the official.

The conference held a panel session to highlight the special values of UNCLOS and another on Vietnam’s implementation of the convention.

Vietnam- Responsible Member of 1982 UNCLOS
The hybrid event, held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by 150 delegates from ministries, sectors, coastal localities, and representative bodies of ASEAN countries in Vietnam. Photo: VGP

In their remarks sent to the workshop, Tommy Koh, former President of the third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, and Vladimir Jares, Director of the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, stressed the importance of UNCLOS and Vietnam’s contributions to the UNCLOS drafting and implementation process.

Participants shared the view that over the past 40 years, UNCLOS has not only properly served as a constitution of the oceans but also contributed to the formation and protection of the international legal order of the seas and oceans, as well as to the maintenance of peace, security, stability, and international cooperation at sea.

They said that bordering the South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea) and being a member of UNCLOS, Vietnam has always been well aware of the role and importance of the seas to national peace, security, and development.

They also affirmed the importance of respecting and fully and responsibly implementing regulations in UNCLOS, protecting the legal order of the seas and oceans, and promoting cooperation amid complex developments in the South China Sea.

Fishing vessels of Quang Tri province (Photo: VNA)
Fishing vessels of Quang Tri provincePhoto: VNA)

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Prof. Carl Thayer, University of New South Wales, Australia, said Vietnam has an extensive coastline running 3,444 km (excluding offshore features). UNCLOS provides the legal basis for Vietnam to promulgate the coordinates for its territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ and continental shelf and to peacefully resolve disputes with its neighbors.

UNCLOS provides a comprehensive legal framework for ocean governance and includes customary international law as well as new legal concepts. UNCLOS is referred to as the “Constitution for the Oceans.” It replaces a patchwork of legal claims and practices by coastal states by clearly setting out the limits on the territorial sea, contiguous zone, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

UNCLOS was a compromise between coastal states and maritime powers. Many coastal states were former colonies and developing countries. All coastal states were given sovereign jurisdiction over the marine resources in waters forming their EEZs and the hydrocarbons (oil and gas), minerals and other resources on their continental shelves, he said.

The Convention was adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and opened for signature, together with the Final Act of the Conference, at Montego Bay, Jamaica, on 10 December 1982. The Conference was convened pursuant to resolution 3067 adopted by the General Assembly on 16 November 1973, according to the UN Treaty Collection.

Vietnam - Responsible Member of 1982 UNCLOS - DAV’s Director of South China Sea Institute

Vietnam - Responsible Member of 1982 UNCLOS - DAV’s Director of South China Sea Institute

Since becoming a signatory to the 1982 UNCLOS, Vietnam has remained a responsible member and has made significant efforts to implement its provisions, according to ...

South China Sea Plays an Important Role in Global Peace and Prosperity

South China Sea Plays an Important Role in Global Peace and Prosperity

At the 14th South China Sea International Conference on November 16-17 in Da Nang, many scholars and guests agreed that South China Sea plays an ...

International Law and Peaceful Resolution of Disputes in the South China Sea Contribute to Global Peace

International Law and Peaceful Resolution of Disputes in the South China Sea Contribute to Global Peace

On November 18, the Asia-Africa Institute of the German University of Hamburg organized an international conference on Indo-Pacific strategies and the South China Sea issue.

Rosy Huong
Phiên bản di động