On May 1, 2014 China towed its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 to the waters deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. It has since dispatched vessels, including military ships, and aircraft, to protect the platform. Its ships have intimidated, fired water cannons at and rammed Vietnamese law enforcement vessels, injuring people on board and damaging their property.
China even declared three miles of safety zones around the oil platform, affecting navigation safety in the region and violating the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In its resolution adopted on July 10, the Senate reaffirms the US government’s strong support for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes.
It condemns coercive and threatening actions or the use of force to impede freedom of operations in international airspace by military or civilian aircraft, to alter the status quo or to destabilise the Asia-Pacific region.
Although the US, an Asia-Pacific power, is not a claimant party in the East Sea, it has a clear interest in encouraging and supporting regional countries to work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve the disputes and is firmly opposed to coercion, intimidation, threats, or the use of force.
According to the resolution, the increasing frequency and assertiveness of patrols and competing regulations over disputed territory and maritime areas and airspace in the East Sea are raising tensions and increasing the risk of confrontation.
It says China’s territorial claims and actions are unilateral attempts to change the status quo, violating the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
In its resolution adopted on July 10, the Senate reaffirms the US government’s strong support for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes.
It condemns coercive and threatening actions or the use of force to impede freedom of operations in international airspace by military or civilian aircraft, to alter the status quo or to destabilise the Asia-Pacific region.
Although the US, an Asia-Pacific power, is not a claimant party in the East Sea, it has a clear interest in encouraging and supporting regional countries to work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve the disputes and is firmly opposed to coercion, intimidation, threats, or the use of force.
According to the resolution, the increasing frequency and assertiveness of patrols and competing regulations over disputed territory and maritime areas and airspace in the East Sea are raising tensions and increasing the risk of confrontation.
It says China’s territorial claims and actions are unilateral attempts to change the status quo, violating the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
