Illustrative image (Photo: AP) Brussels (VNA) – The European Union (EU) wasurged to increase its regional presence with a focus on trade, connectivity and maritime security and safetyas navigation in the East Sea is an important artery of the world trade andessential to the bloc, as heard a seminar in Brussels on October 22.
The seminar, focusing on EU – ASEAN and East Sea,territorial dispute, power competition and economic interests, was co-organisedby the Belgium’s Royal Institute for International Relations (Egmont), the Asia– Pacific Media and Asia Centre in France.
The event gathered nearly 70 speakers specialised in law andinternational relations from the European External Action Service, the UK’s Royal Institute of InternationalAffairs, the Egmont, the Foundation for Strategic Research, and the France’sCentre for International Studies.
They analysedChina’s continued construction of military establishments on artificial islandsthat have disrupted the status quo in the East Sea as well as China’sunilateral actions that exacerbate tension in the region.
Participantsraised their idea that the EU should cooperate with the ASEAN via the ASEANRegional Forum, encourage multilateralisation, and seek proper measures tosettle disputes.
The EU’s stanceon the East Sea was also reaffirmed at the event, which highlighted the protectionof maritime freedom, resolute respect for international law, including maritimelaw and rulings by the tribunal, and encouragement of the settlement ofdisputes at sea by peaceful means, and rejection of unilateral actions thatcould change the status quo and intensify tension.
Via the event,the organisers expected to draw European public attention to the recent tensionin the East Sea caused by China’s serious violations of international law, sovereignand jurisdiction rights, as well as hindrance to legal oil and gas activitiesin exclusive economic zones of Vietnam and a number of other coastal countriesin the region./.
The seminar, focusing on EU – ASEAN and East Sea,territorial dispute, power competition and economic interests, was co-organisedby the Belgium’s Royal Institute for International Relations (Egmont), the Asia– Pacific Media and Asia Centre in France.
The event gathered nearly 70 speakers specialised in law andinternational relations from the European External Action Service, the UK’s Royal Institute of InternationalAffairs, the Egmont, the Foundation for Strategic Research, and the France’sCentre for International Studies.
They analysedChina’s continued construction of military establishments on artificial islandsthat have disrupted the status quo in the East Sea as well as China’sunilateral actions that exacerbate tension in the region.
Participantsraised their idea that the EU should cooperate with the ASEAN via the ASEANRegional Forum, encourage multilateralisation, and seek proper measures tosettle disputes.
The EU’s stanceon the East Sea was also reaffirmed at the event, which highlighted the protectionof maritime freedom, resolute respect for international law, including maritimelaw and rulings by the tribunal, and encouragement of the settlement ofdisputes at sea by peaceful means, and rejection of unilateral actions thatcould change the status quo and intensify tension.
Via the event,the organisers expected to draw European public attention to the recent tensionin the East Sea caused by China’s serious violations of international law, sovereignand jurisdiction rights, as well as hindrance to legal oil and gas activitiesin exclusive economic zones of Vietnam and a number of other coastal countriesin the region./.
VNA
