Legal solution essential for East Sea disputes
International public opinion share the view that the escalating tension in the East Sea can not be ignored.
Defying objection from the international community, China is continuing its misconduct in the East Sea and distorted statements about Vietnam. To ease tension, the international community has emphasised a legal solution and called on ASEAN to find a common approach and get tougher against China.
On June 14, Gulf News newspaper based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ran a commentary stressing a legal solution for East Sea disputes. The article stated that it is impossible to ignore the increasing tension in the East Sea.
According to the article, serious clashes have risen between China and some other regional countries, causing concern about economic cooperation in the region. The paper underlined the need for a peaceful resolve to current disagreements through the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).
At the recent 24th meeting of States-Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in New York, Vietnam asked China to immediately withdraw the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou- 981, escort its ships from Vietnam’s waters and settle disputes through negotiations or any other peaceful means in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.
Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, head of Vietnam’s permanent representative mission to the United Nations reaffirmed Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, refuting China’s fallacious view and distortion.
At the conference, many countries, including Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia also expressed concern about the complicated developments in the East Sea, calling on concerned parties to refrain from threatening to use force and settle disputes peacefully in accordance with international law and UNCLOS.
Meanwhile, the international community continued to denounce China’s false claims about the East Sea.
UK news agency Reuters reported that a senior US official rejected China's claim that the country did not dispatch military forces to the site where a giant oil rig was illegally located in the East Sea.
According to the official, China's claim is unpersuasive aiming to cover up its actions in the East Sea.
Dr. William Choong, a senior fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) - Asia said that before intention by China to extend sovereignty in the East Sea, it is imperative to accelerate the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Mr. Chong also noted that if there is no response, whether military or non- military reaction from countries claiming sovereignty in the region, China will turn their intention into reality and extend sovereignty in the East Sea. This will be detrimental to regional security, which has been established on the basis of negotiations and cooperation between China and Asian Pacific countries.
