Foreign Ministers Support ASEAN's Standpoint on South China Sea

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Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu. (Photo: Vietnam Plus)

Foreign ministers of different countries said countries supported ASEAN’s principled stance on the South China Sea issue in the framework of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related conferences, which have been taking place since August 3.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, as the coordinator of ASEAN-Japan relations, co-chaired the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held via videoconference on August 3 together with the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu. The meeting was held in the framework of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-54) and related conferences.

Japan affirmed to back ASEAN’s standpoint on the South China Sea (locally called the South China Sea) and applauded the bloc’s efforts to uphold its role in promoting cooperation, dialogue, and trust-building in the region, ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the building of an effective and practical Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), VNA cited.

RoK Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. (Photo: Korea)

At the ASEAN-RoK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held via videoconference on August 3, RoK Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong affirmed that his country places importance on its strategic partnership with ASEAN. The RoK advocates ASEAN’s stance on the South China Sea, and welcomes the bloc to promote its role in promoting cooperation, dialogue, and trust-building in the region, and building an efficient and effective and building efficient and effective COC, in line with international law and the UNCLOS, according to VOV.

ASEAN - US Ministerial Meeting. (Photo: VN Express)

During a meeting held via videoconference on August 4, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the administration of President Joe Biden attaches importance to the strategic partnership with ASEAN and supports the bloc’s solidarity, unanimity, and centrality, along with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

The US emphasized its support for ASEAN’s principled stance on the South China Sea issue, welcoming the bloc bringing into play its role in promoting cooperation, dialogue, and trust-building in the region, ensuring the full and effective implementation of the DOC, and building an efficient and effective COC in the Bien Dong Sea in line with international law and the UNCLOS with the rights and legitimate interests of relevant parties respected and properly mentioned.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne. (Photo: ABC)

At the virtual ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) with Australia on August 4 as part of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne affirmed that the country supports ASEAN's principle stance as well as the promotion of the association’s role in promoting dialogue and trust-building, ensuring the full and effective implementation of the DOC toward building an effective and substantive COC in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

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