Paris workshop talks South China Sea challenges

The workshop brought together more than 120 delegates, including French Senators, representatives of the French Ministries for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Interior, and experts in international relations, military strategy, and defense policy.

In his opening remarks, EGA president Alexandre Negrus, emphasized that disputes and tensions in the South China Sea are one of the complex issues, making it a hot spot in the world today. He therefore said countries, including France, need to be fully aware of the role and importance of the region as well as the risks and challenges it poses.

The workshop did not have the ambition to solve the problem, but wanted to provide more information on international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), to contribute to reducing tension risks, he said.

Fourteen speakers provided up-to-date information about what has happened in the regional waters and warned about possible negative developments in the area. They also emphasized the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the need to respect and implement the 1982 UNCLOS, and regional countries’ commitments such as the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

The experts called on France, the European Union (EU) and the rest of the world to play their role in resolving regional disputes and disagreements on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and at the same time to expand international cooperation in all fields in the region.