Maritime Police Ship 8001 patrols at Phuc Nguyen and DK1/15 rigs in the East Sea. (Photo: Lam Khanh/ VNA)

Addressing the event, scholar from India and Vietnam reiterated the importance of sea routes in the East Sea as they contributed to some 5 trillion US dollars worth of commodity transported as they served 9 out of 10 busiest container ports in the world. The East Sea does matter to the interests of Southeast Asia and India. Scholars said China's Haiyan Dizhi 8 ship infringement on the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam in the East Sea for months caused intense and instability in the region as well as international concern, harming Chinese image and deteriorating international community’s trust in China. Scholars reaffirmed the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as a legal document of constitutional value. They called for an early finalization of the Code of Conducts for Parties in the East Sea for peace and stability in the region.