The parties involved in disputes in the East Sea need to exercise restraint and settle disputes by peaceful means, through dialogues and in line with international law, said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The UN Secretary General made the call in the framework of meetings on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, the East Asia Summit (EAS) and related meetings in Malaysia on November 22, after China said it would continue construction of military and civil bases on the artificial islands it built in the East Sea.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and delegates in the Summit. (Source: VNA)

Previously, US President Barack Obama said concerned countries should stop building artificial islands and militarising their claims in the East Sea. He also supported the creation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Last month, a US guided missile destroyer, USS Lassen, navigated within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands China has been building in Viet Nam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, the AFP news agency reported on October 27.

This was seen as the first concrete move in the US’s plan to conduct regular patrol activities in the East Sea.

Viet Nam calls for parties involved to contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, and navigation and aviation safety in the East Sea on the basis of international law, including the UNCLOS and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

(Source: VNA)