ASEAN pledges to maintain peace and freedom of navigation in the East Sea

ASEAN leaders issue Chairman's Statement after summit in Malaysia, reaffirming commitment to maintaining peace, stability and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea.

In the Chairman's Statement released on May 28 after the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ASEAN leaders reiterated the need to maintain a rules-based regional order and called on parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any activities that could escalate disputes or threaten peace and stability in the disputed waters, according to VNA.

"We reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea," the leaders said in the statement, while emphasizing the importance of promoting mutual trust and confidence among relevant parties.

ASEAN leaders called on parties to avoid provocative actions that may further complicate the situation, and instead pursue peaceful means to resolve disputes, fully respect legal and diplomatic processes, and in accordance with internationally recognized laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste signed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on May 26. Photo: VGP

The leaders also stressed the need to avoid the threat or use of force and to uphold the integrity of international law as a guiding framework in all efforts to manage tensions and disputes in the maritime domain.

ASEAN countries stressed the importance of fully implementing the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which serves as a political commitment to avoid actions that raise tensions and resolve disputes through dialogue.

ASEAN welcomed the progress made in the ongoing negotiations towards a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), adding that it remains committed to the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The bloc welcomed practical measures to reduce tensions at sea and reduce the risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculations, and reaffirmed the importance of implementing confidence-building and preventive measures to promote greater transparency among parties involved in the South China Sea.

The statement concluded by reaffirming ASEAN’s long-standing position on the need to uphold and respect international law, in particular the 1982 UNCLOS, as the common legal framework governing the world’s oceans and maritime conduct.

The Chairman’s Statement has 139 items, and ASEAN’s statement on the South China Sea falls under the Regional and International Issues section.

Ngoc Anh