US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on April 23 criticised recent actions of China in the East Sea, including its announcement of the establishment of “Xisha district” (Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago) and “Nansha district” (Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago) within the so-called “Sansha city,” and China coast guard vessel's sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – US Secretary of State MikePompeo on April 23 criticised recent actions of China in the East Sea, including its announcement of theestablishment of “Xisha district” (Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago)and “Nansha district” (Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago) within theso-called “Sansha city,” and China coast guard vessel's sinking of a Vietnamesefishing boat.
Earlier, just hours prior to a video conference between the Foreign Ministersof the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the US on April 22,Pompeo also stressed that US strongly opposed China’s bullying behaviour against neighbouringcountries in the recent past.
Also on April 23, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein issued a statement on the East Sea issue, saying all concernedparties must work together to maintain peace, security and stability in the East Sea andincrease efforts to build, maintain and enhance mutual trust.
Malaysia held a view that the East Sea should be maintained as a sea of peace and trade. Therefore, matters relating to the sea must beresolved peacefully based on the principles of international law, including the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, he said./.
Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi has voiced his concerns over China’s establishment of districts to administer the Paracel (Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago) and Spratly islands (Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago) in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), Japan’s Kyodo News reported.
Following China’s announcement of the establishment of the so-called “Xisha district” (in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago) and “Nansha district” (in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago) within “Sansha city”, international experts have condemned the move, saying it breaks international law.
China’s circulation of a number of diplomatic notes at the United Nations (UN) that raise unreasonable sovereignty claims over Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos as well as maritime claims in the East Sea runs counter to the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an official said on April 23.
Dr. Le Hong Hiep from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore has said China’s recent acts in the East Sea has made the regional situation more tense and uncertain, thus hindering negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
