The strife had “served to raise tensions in the region”, the department said, welcoming statements issued by leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries at last weekend’s summit in Myanmar, which reiterated concerns and called for a code of conduct.
The move follows the deployment of a Chinese drilling rig to a site apparently within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.
The DFAT statement said: “Australia does not take a position on competing claims … but has a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law … trade and freedom of navigation.”
Source The Australian
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