Hanoi (VNA) – New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee expressed his support to arbitral process at the seventh Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on October 11, saying that the reclamation, construction and militarisation in the East Sea is to blame for escalating tension.
Expressing concern over the East Sea issue, Brownlee stressed that New Zealand opposes actions that undermine peace and erode trust, and would like to see all parties actively take steps to reduce those tensions.
"As a small maritime trading nation, international law and, in particular, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is important for New Zealand”, he said, adding that he believes countries have the right to seek international resolution such as arbitral process.
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