The illegal building of artificial islands has taken centre-stage as researchers to the 7th East Sea International Conference reviewed recent developments in the East Sea, and discussed the possibilities of promoting greater regional co-operation.
"The strongest undercurrent in the past year has been changes to the status-quo in the East Sea through illegal building of artificial islands. Researchers are also concerned about the militarisation of these islands or the use of these islands for purposes that could threaten peace and stability in the region. Vietnam and other countries have used peaceful measures to deal with this development", Dang Dinh Quy, President of Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, said.
Speakers to the event also discussed the East Sea situation in many different aspects, from politics, diplomacy to rules of law to identify opportunities and promote understanding and co-operation according to international law.
"We need the effective rule of law, not just the rule of law, the effective rule of law, effective norms, and effective standards to take on serious disputes. And there are serious disputes, nobody can resolve them. But we need a mechanism to say we agreed on to help us tamp them down and work towards resolutions over the long term", Dr.Patrick Cronin, Senior Director, Asia-Pacific Security Programme, Center for a New American Security, said.
The event drew the participation of over 150 academics and officials from China, Denmark, the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam.
Delegates to the event raised the point that in a world of increasing globalisation, the importance of the East Sea will only grow in time. But the dream of a peaceful East Sea seems to be still far-fetched. Therefore the event is an opportunity for academics to evaluate the current situation in the East Sea from an interdisciplinary perspective and discuss measures to maintain peace and stability and promote co-operation in the region.
