The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised nations have called for the strict enforcement of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling, which rejected China’s groundless claims of “historical rights” over the waters within the so-called “nine-dash line” in the East Sea.

In a recent joint statement, the G7 foreign ministers reiterated strong opposition to any action that increase tensions in the East Sea as well as the threat to use or use of force in solving maritime disputes. 

The group considers the ruling issued by the PCA on July 12, 2016 in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a useful foundation for future efforts to peacefully settle disputes in the East Sea.

The G7 ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining maritime order based on international law, especially UNCLOS, as well as ensuring freedom of navigation and aviation, and other rights to use the sea in line with international law. 

Disputes should be settled by legal tools and trust-building measures, the statement said. 

It also called for legal-based dialogues to finalise a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

VNA