Australia urges finalisation of COC in line with UNCLOS
The Australian Government has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China to negotiate a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea without prejudice to the rights and interests of third-party states in the strategic waters.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely (Source: dutertenewsportal.com)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Australian Government has called on the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China to negotiate a Code of Conduct (COC)in the East Sea without prejudice to the rights and interests of third-partystates in the strategic waters.
“Weurge parties to ensure the Code of Conduct is consistent with existinginternational rules, including those in the United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Code of Conduct should not prejudice the interestsof third parties or the rights of all states under international law, includingUNCLOS,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely said at a forumon the rules-based international system hosted by the Stratbase ADR Institutein Taguig city on August 17.
Accordingto the ambassador, as a member of the Indo-Pacific region and the ASEAN’soldest dialogue partner, developments in the East Sea matter to Australia andthe COC negotiation has the potential to help manage the disputes anddeescalate tensions.
Gorelysaid the document must reinforce the existing regional architecture, the ASEAN’scentrality and “it should strengthen parties’ commitments to ease actions thatwould complicate or escalate disputes, particularly militarization,” amongothers.
Anydocument that deprives non-signatory states their rights under theinternational law would be a cause of concern, she added.-VNA
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Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely (Source: dutertenewsportal.com) 
