Asian parties reject ‘unilateral actions’, call for respect for international law

The International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) on Friday (November 6, 2026) adopted the Seoul Declaration, expressing concern over unilateral actions and reaffirming state sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also calling for strict adherence to the principles of the UN Charter amid growing geopolitical tensions.

The declaration was unanimously adopted at the 13th General Assembly of ICAPP, held in Seoul from November 4 to 6, with representatives of 83 political parties from across Asia participating. The summit was jointly hosted by South Korea’s governing Democratic Party and the Opposition People Power Party.

The plenary sessions of the Assembly, attended by representatives from Palestine, Iran, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and others, saw discussions on contemporary conflicts, including in Palestine and Iran. Though there is no reference to these conflicts in the declaration, members expressed “great concern” on unilateral actions, intensifying geopolitical rivalry and weakening international cooperation. It said non-interference in the internal affairs of states, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and the equal status of all nations were essential to maintaining peace, stability and reconciliation.

“We were particularly concerned that in international relations, unilateral actions, the use of the threat of force, and selective observance of international obligations can erode confidence in the international legal order,” reads the declaration. 

Rejecting the use or threat of force as instruments of diplomacy, the participating parties called on all countries to respect international law consistently, irrespective of their size or geopolitical influence. They also stressed the need to keep diplomatic channels open, including between adversaries.

The declaration sought to place the principles of the UN Charter at the centre of efforts to rebuild trust among nations.

Answering a question from The Hindu on whether ICAPP can be a platform for mediation and conflict resolution in Asia, Chung Eui-yong, Chairperson of the ICAPP Standing Committee and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, said ICAPP is a platform for dialogue between political parties and that parties can influence governments in moving towards peaceful settlement of disputes. 

“We are not governments. Political parties represent people. What we can do is influence our governments. The governing as well as Opposition parties should put in their best effort to influence government policies and promote peace,” said Mr. Chung.  

He added that in the Seoul declaration, “we agreed to reject war as an instrument of coercion. This demonstrates our strong commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts.” 

Beyond geopolitical security, the declaration addressed challenges to democratic governance, climate change and the rapid development of artificial intelligence. It highlighted a growing deficit of trust between nations, citizens, and institutions, and called for responsible, human-centred oversight of AI technologies, equitable climate finance for developing countries facing climate-related disasters, and stronger democratic accountability.

The assembly also welcomed the launch of the Inter-Continental Dialogue among Political Parties (ICDPP), an initiative aimed at bridging ideological differences and preventing the international community from fragmenting into competing blocs.

The 14th ICAPP General Assembly will be held in 2028 in Vietnam.

The correspondent is in Seoul at the invitation of the ICAPP.