Australia, US underline freedom of navigation in East Sea
(VOVWORLD) - Australia and the United States underlined the importance of countries’ ability to exercise their maritime rights and freedoms in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam), consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms, according to the Australia-US Ministerial Consultations Joint Statement on Friday.
The joint statement adopted by Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defense Minister Peter Dutton of Australia and their US counterparts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after the annual consultation meeting on Thursday.
The leaders conveyed ongoing concern regarding China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea that are without legal basis, called on China to implement relevant domestic legislation, including the Maritime Traffic Safety Law, in a manner consistent with UNCLOS, and reiterated that the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding on the parties. They reiterated their “strong opposition to the militarization of disputed features and other destabilizing actions.”