 On June 14, 2016, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the special ASEAN - China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In the photo: Panoramic view of the meeting. Photo: Hai Yen/VNA  Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh and heads of delegations pose for a photo. Photo: Hai Yen/VNA  Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the special ASEAN – China Foreign Minister’s Meeting on June 13, 2016, in Yunnan, China. Photo: Xinhua/VNA |
He special ASEAN – China Foreign Minister’s meeting originated from ASEAN’s need to discuss the East Sea issue and bilateral ties with China. At the meeting, both sides straightforwardly discussed the latest developments and solutions. The ASEAN member states expressed concerns over the complicated developments in recent times which have exacerbated tensions and eroded trust. If improperly settled, such developments would trigger incidents affecting peace, stability and security in the region.
The meeting concluded without a joint declaration as expected but ASEAN foreign ministers released a press statement with frank and responsible words, partly showing important issues discussed at the meeting and ASEAN’s special concerns over the East Sea issue.
At the beginning of the press statement, ASEAN foreign ministers straightforwardly pointed out: “We look forward to working together with China to bring ASEAN - China cooperation to the next level. But we also cannot ignore what is happening in the South China Sea as it is an important issue in relations and cooperation between ASEAN and China. This is the context in which this Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held today”.
Vietnamese and Chinese coast guards have a regular joint fishing patrol
of common fishing grounds in the Gulf of Tonkin. Photo: Tuan Anh/VNA
Vietnamese and Chinese coast guards during a regular joint fishing patrol
of common fishing grounds in the Gulf of Tonkin. Photo: Tuan Anh/VNA
The content of the statement also clearly stated: “About the South China Sea, we had a candid exchange with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in view of recent developments on the ground. We expressed our serious concerns over recent and ongoing developments, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and which may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability in the East Sea”.
The foreign ministers stressed the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the East Sea and considered it the benefit and responsibility of countries, firstly ASEAN and China. They expressed deep concerns over increased military build-up in the East Sea, especially the large-scale accretion and embellishment and construction of the reefs, the militarisation of the artificial islands and actions of sovereignty claims that are not based on international law.
“We emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities, including land reclamation, which may raise tensions in the East Sea,” the statement said.
 Illegal construction by China on Gac Ma Island in Truong Sa Archipelago of Vietnam. Photo: Mai Thanh Hai  An image of the airstrip illegally built by China on the Fiery Cross Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa Archipelago. Photo: Reuter/VNA |
Facing the complicated situation, ASEAN and Chinese foreign ministers expressed their commitment to maintaining peace and security in the East Sea, peacefully settling disputes in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully respecting legal and diplomatic processes, refraining from the use or threat to use force, showing self-restraint, and fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and working towards the early formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The two sides applauded achievements attained at the 12th ASEAN-China Senior Officers’ Meeting on implementing DOC which was held on June 9 in Ha Long, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. They reaffirmed their commitment of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and urged the early adoption of an effective Code of Conduct to enhance mutual understanding and trust and promote cooperation in reality, manage disputes and prevent conflicts, making a contribution to maintaining peace, stability and security in the East Sea, especially strengthening the exchange to have practical progresses in implementing DOC and building COC.
On the occasion, the foreign ministers agreed to complete the draft of a code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) for naval vessels in the East Sea. Both are seen as deliverables for the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit to be held in September in Laos to approve and operate the MFA-to-MFA hotline to manage maritime emergencies in the East Sea.
That ASEAN countries reached a consensus on the content of the press statement released at the summit showed great efforts of ASEAN member states in expressing a common stance in the East Sea issue. It is of great significance in effort to highlight the consensus as well as the central role of ASEAN in issues related to peace and security in the region and the world.
By VNA/VNP
