Hanoi (VNA) - Foreign experts have condemned China’s recentactions in the East Sea, saying its moves have escalated tensions in the regionand infringed upon international law.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Derek Grossman, a senioranalyst at the US-based RAND Corporation, said there is general agreement thatChina has been bullying its neighbours with such moves, including Vietnam, thePhilippines, and Malaysia.
He believes that these acts may fuel security uncertainties in theregion and even escalate tensions.
James Rogers, Director of the Global Britain Programme at the UK-basedHenry Jackson Society, told VNA that China’s claim of sovereignty over almostthe entire East Sea via the so-called “nine-dash line” is groundless andviolates international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of theSea (UNCLOS).
He held that the recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinesecoast guard vessel in the vicinity of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago was dangerousand unacceptable.
China’s unlawful sovereignty claims and excessive actions in the East Seaare undermining international law and causing insecurity in the region, henoted, adding that countries that comply with international law and those thatplay a major role in protecting the law-based international system need tocondemn such actions.
Meanwhile, the Russian news agency ANNA-News quoted experts in the countryas describing China’s recent naming of geographical features in the East Sea asa breach of international law.
They said that according to the 1982 UNCLOS, states cannot claim sovereigntyover an underwater object if it is not within 12 nautical miles of baselines. China’snaming of islands, reefs, and features on the seabed of the East Sea is thereforegroundless and violates international law.
ANNA-News also noted that, in recent years, China’s creation ofartificial islands and development of infrastructure in the waters have faced internationaldiscontent.
Russian specialists earlier condemned China’s declaration of the establishemtn of two districts within so-called “Sansha city”, saying the move runscounter to international law.
On the Times of India, journalist Rudroneel Ghoshwrote that China’s establishment of “Xisha district” (which in fact isVietnam’s Hoang Sa Archipelago) and “Nansha district” (which is Vietnam’s Truong Sa(Spratly) Archipelago) within so-called “Sansha city” is a unilateral move andundermines regional stability.
On April 19, Ministry of ForeignAffairs spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang stated that: “Vietnam has strongly affirmedmany times that it has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation testifyingto its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and TruongSa Archipelagos.”
She highlighted Vietnam’s consistentviewpoint that it strongly objects to the establishment of so-called “Sansha city” and related actions, asthey have seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, been valueless, unrecognised,and not beneficial to friendship among countries, and have complicated thesituation in the East Sea, the region, and the world.
“Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, abolish wrongful decisions made relating to these moves,and not commit similar acts in the future,” the spokesperson added./.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Derek Grossman, a senioranalyst at the US-based RAND Corporation, said there is general agreement thatChina has been bullying its neighbours with such moves, including Vietnam, thePhilippines, and Malaysia.
He believes that these acts may fuel security uncertainties in theregion and even escalate tensions.
James Rogers, Director of the Global Britain Programme at the UK-basedHenry Jackson Society, told VNA that China’s claim of sovereignty over almostthe entire East Sea via the so-called “nine-dash line” is groundless andviolates international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of theSea (UNCLOS).
He held that the recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinesecoast guard vessel in the vicinity of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago was dangerousand unacceptable.
China’s unlawful sovereignty claims and excessive actions in the East Seaare undermining international law and causing insecurity in the region, henoted, adding that countries that comply with international law and those thatplay a major role in protecting the law-based international system need tocondemn such actions.
Meanwhile, the Russian news agency ANNA-News quoted experts in the countryas describing China’s recent naming of geographical features in the East Sea asa breach of international law.
They said that according to the 1982 UNCLOS, states cannot claim sovereigntyover an underwater object if it is not within 12 nautical miles of baselines. China’snaming of islands, reefs, and features on the seabed of the East Sea is thereforegroundless and violates international law.
ANNA-News also noted that, in recent years, China’s creation ofartificial islands and development of infrastructure in the waters have faced internationaldiscontent.
Russian specialists earlier condemned China’s declaration of the establishemtn of two districts within so-called “Sansha city”, saying the move runscounter to international law.
On the Times of India, journalist Rudroneel Ghoshwrote that China’s establishment of “Xisha district” (which in fact isVietnam’s Hoang Sa Archipelago) and “Nansha district” (which is Vietnam’s Truong Sa(Spratly) Archipelago) within so-called “Sansha city” is a unilateral move andundermines regional stability.
On April 19, Ministry of ForeignAffairs spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang stated that: “Vietnam has strongly affirmedmany times that it has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation testifyingto its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and TruongSa Archipelagos.”
She highlighted Vietnam’s consistentviewpoint that it strongly objects to the establishment of so-called “Sansha city” and related actions, asthey have seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, been valueless, unrecognised,and not beneficial to friendship among countries, and have complicated thesituation in the East Sea, the region, and the world.
“Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, abolish wrongful decisions made relating to these moves,and not commit similar acts in the future,” the spokesperson added./.
VNA
