Delegates focused their discussions on the competition amongst certain countries in the region, the East Sea disputes, the arms race and nuclear proliferation in East Asia.

Speakers opposed the concept of the “U-Shaped” or “nine-dotted” line, and called on the dispute to be solved by peaceful means.

They were referring to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They also discussed future risks to security in the East Sea

and called on all ASEAN countries to work closer together and reach a consensus on the East Sea issue.

Participants welcomed the Vietnam-China six-point agreement, considering it one of the factors in solving the East Sea issue, and called for more research on historical documents, posted on Vietnam’s websites, concerning the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.

The seminar also heard a number of speeches that gave evidence confirming that the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes are sovereign to Vietnam.

Professor Vladimir Kolotov from the St. Petersburg State University, who was also head of the seminar’s organising board, gave a speech on the arc of instability in East Asia. He said this is the main issue for regional security.

He said the more China asks for control of the East Sea, the more it will face increasing opposition from the international community.

VNA