Activities
International conference on legal issues regarding the HD-981 incident
Author: Nguyễn Thanh Bình
They discussed legal aspects and consequences of the HD-981 incident, in which China placed an oil rig in Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf from 2nd May to 15th July 2014.
International conference on legal issues regarding the HD-981 incident
More than 30 international experts and scholars attended the conference, including many famous names in the international law community. Prof. Alexander Yankov - a leading figure of international maritime law, former Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, one of the three founding fathers of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), now aged 90 – was present.
Picture: Prof. Alexander Yankov - former Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (2nd from left to right), Prof. Mai Hong Quy – Rector of the HCMC University of Law (middle), Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Truong and other delegates.
The conference had 3 main topics: International law on the HD-981 incident; settling the HD-981 dispute by political and diplomatic solutions in accordance with international law; solving the HD-981 dispute by international law. All the delegates, especially foreign ones, recommended the rule of “the land dominates the sea”. They believed both countries should think about different aspects of the dispute with care and strictness; suggested many open ideas about what Vietnam can and should do in the HD-981 incident as well as the East Sea issue.
Several delegates noted that international legality is a part of the world and international reality, there are no total absolute win or lose. However, it is a useful tool to rally international forces. Countries must become aware of all the strategic aspects of the fight; combine political, diplomatic solutions with field actions.
Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Truong – President of CSSD – took part in the conference.
Pictures:
