Responding to a reporter's question about recent clashes around Bai Co May (internationally known as Second Thomas Shoal) in the East Sea, Hang said Vietnam urged the parties concerned to act with restraint, respect the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states over their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves as established in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and fully and effectively implement the DOC.
She stressed the need to foster a favorable environment for negotiations on a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), comply with international regulations on the safety of navigation and aviation, resolve disputes and differences through peaceful means without using force or threatening to use force, and contribute positively to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Regarding a reporter's question on discussions related to the East Sea at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-59) in the Philippines, the spokeswoman said ASEAN member states and their partners underscored the priority of ensuring ASEAN's unity and resilience and enhancing the bloc's central role in an increasingly substantive and expanding network of partnerships.
