(VOVworld) – International law should be the basis in managing territorial disputes in the East Sea. The idea was agreed with by almost all scholars attending the 3rd US-Japan relations and Southeast Asia Dialogue organized by Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

The participants raised concerns over new security challenges in the Southeast Asia, especially China’s aggressive and perverse attitude in dealing with territorial disputes with its neighboring countries, ignorance of international law, and threatening to use force. They agreed that international law including the 1982 UNCLOS must be the foundation in settling the East Sea tensions.

Hoang Anh Tuan, Head of the Institute for Foreign Policies and Strategic Studies, called on countries to raise their voice and act to force China to withdraw its oil rig from Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf unconditionally.