(VOVworld) – The 24th conference of the members of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea took place at the UN Headquarters in New York on June 9-13. Vietnam continued to slam China for placing oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UN Le Hoai Trung (photo: Le Duong/VNPlus)

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UN Le Hoai Trung spoke at the plenary session that Vietnam acknowledged the world’s concern over the tensions in the East Sea. He called on the UNCLOS members to criticize China’s unilateral actions causing tensions in the East Sea and supported the principles of not using or threatening to use force and resolving disputes in line with international law.

During discussions, the Vietnamese delegates repeated Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, pointed out the illegality of placing oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf, and rejected China’s distorted viewpoints at the conference.

Countries, including Japan, the Phillipines, and Malaysia expressed their concern over the East Sea complications. Delegates called on countries to practice restraint, not threat to use or use force, and resolve disputes by peaceful measures in line with the UNCLOS, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon finalizing the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).