Vo Minh TapPh.D. Candidate, College of Social Sciences and Humanities,Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh CitySeminar on East Sea Disputes, 25-26 July, 2014

CONTENTS1. Regional and international contexts (2009 2014)2. Disputes and conflicts in the East Sea. 3. ASEAN and settlement of the East Sea disputes

1. Regional and international contexts The 2008 2009 world economic crisisThe Ukrainian crisis (the Ukrainian issue)The U.S. and its axis rotation strategy in Asia PacificPolitical insecurity, social instability and terrorism in the Southeast Asian regionRising China and its grand strategy from reform and opening up until now.

As such, developments of the regional and international situation over the past one decade, especially since early 2014, have made tremendous impacts on the geopolitical face of the region and the world, especially Chinas actions in the East Asian sea region, especially in the East Sea.

2. The East Sea: The most potential hot spot of the twenty-first century .The East Sea issue is related to three main aspects:- Firstly, territorial sovereignty in islands;- Secondly, delimitation among overlapped territorial waters and continental shelves;- Thirdly, maritime freedom and security.

2. The East Sea: The most potential hot spot of the twenty-first century .Complicated disputes over the East Sea:(1) Countries are directly related to disputes among different territorial sovereignty claims on islands and archipelagoes in the East Seas;(2) The East Sea disputes seem to be new and security, military issues.

Disputes over the East Sea..(3) The East Sea is a strategically competitive chessboard among big countries; (4) China has deployed the HD-981 oil rig unilaterally to Vietnams exclusive economic zone and continental shelf (from May 02, 2014 until now).

3. ASEAN and settlement of the East Sea disputes(3.1) ASEAN needs to strengthen dialogue, confidence building; and make it clear about viewpoints, policies, consensus, and goodwill; and promote cooperation in the region.

3. ASEAN and settlement of the East Sea disputes(3.2) ASEAN countries need to promote diplomatic activities and dialogues with big countries outside the block, create a favorable international environment for settlement of disputes and conflicts.

3. ASEAN and settlement of the East Sea disputes(3.3) ASEAN needs to use the pressure of the international community to require China to accept to bring disputes in the East Sea to global courts for trial (ICJ and ITLOS)

Thank you for your attention!