The European Union, Thailand and Japan co-hosted a seminar in Bangkok on Tuesday 25 March, in the presence of regional partners (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam), to discuss the legal challenges of regional maritime security and support for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Supported by the ESIWA+ project, which aims to strengthen security cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, the event brought together around 100 participants in person and 29 online participants, including diplomats and legal experts.
Discussions focused on the dynamics impacting on the rule of law at sea, emerging maritime technologies and regional security cooperation.
The EU ambassador to Thailand, David Daly, underlined the EU’s commitment to UNCLOS and to regional collaboration.
According to Chatchai Bangchaud, Secretary General of Thailand’s National Security Council, dialogue on the legal aspects of key maritime issues will “significantly enhance confidence in the region and help maintain a rules-based order through the effective implementation of the Law of the Sea”. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)