The Australian ambassadors to Vietnam and the Philippines have expressed their support to both countries engaging in diplomatic efforts to settle their maritime boundaries in the extended continental shelf (ECS) of the disputed South China Sea (known in Manila as West Philippine Sea).
“Australia welcomes Vietnam and the Philippines’ efforts to settle maritime boundaries peacefully and consistent with international law,” said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter).
Goledzinowski tagged the United Nations (UN) Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legally binding documents that “obligates us all.” Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu echoed his position.
“This commitment is a cornerstone of regional peace, security and prosperity,” said Yu.
In a press briefing last Thursday, Vietnam responded to the Philippines’ submission of an ECS claim in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) on June 14.
“Vietnam asserts its full rights and interests under international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, and stays ready to discuss with the Philippines to seek and achieve a solution that is mutually beneficial for both countries,” Vietnam foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said.
