Hanoi: Vietnam has called on parties concerned to exercise restraint, act in accordance with international law, and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry's regular press briefing on July 23. Responding to a reporter's question about recent clashes around Bai Co May (internationally known as Second Thomas Shoal) in the East Sea, Hang said Vietnam urged the parties concerned to act with restraint, respect the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states over their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves as established in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and fully and effectively implement the DOC.

According to Vietnam News Agency, the call for restraint and adherence to international laws comes amid escalating tensions in the East Sea. The region, known internationally as the South China Sea, has been a hotspot for territorial disputes involving several countries, including China, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The DOC, signed in 2002 by ASEAN member states and China, aims to promote peace and stability in the contested waters, calling for cooperative measures and mutual respect among the parties involved.