East Sea
tensions following China’s illegal placement of its drilling rig Haiyang
Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone were hotly debated at the
recent 13th Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore.
Most participating
delegates voiced their support for Vietnam’s stance, condemned China’s move and
asked it to immediately stop destabilising actions in the region.
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Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Phung Quang
Thanh attending the Shangri-La Dialogue
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Vietnamese Defence Minister
General Phung Quang Thanh reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of settling
the East Sea dispute by peaceful measures in accordance with international law,
especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2002
ASEAN-China Declaration o the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and
ASEAN’s Six-Point Principle on the East Sea.
He demanded China that
China immediately withdraw the rig from Vietnam’s waters and sit down at the
negotiating table to maintain peace, stability, and relationships between the
two countries.
Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe, a keynote speaker at the regional security summit, supported
Vietnam and the Philippines in reducing tensions in the East Sea, and stressed
the use of force and intimidation the change the status quo is unjustifiable.
Japan will offer its utmost
support for the efforts of ASEAN countries as they work to ensure the security
of the seas and the skies, and thoroughly maintain freedom of navigation and
overflight, he said.
US Defense Secretary Chuck
Hagel accused China of carrying out acts that cause instability in the East Sea
and warned Washington would not ignore such acts if the international order is
threatened.
He said China has
undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions to assert its claims in the East
Sea. The US “will not look the other way when fundamental principles of the
international order are being challenged".
He also made it clear that
Washington firmly opposes any nation’s use of intimidation, coercion, or the
threat of using force to assert those claims.
Hagel confirmed the US will
continue to embark on its pivot policy in Asia, and Asia-Pacific nations need
to cooperate with each other to maintain peace, prosperity and long-term
stability.
Russian Deputy Defence
Minister Anatoly Antonov said Russia’s main goal is to ensure peace and
security in the Asia-Pacific region which is vital to sustainable economic
development and prosperity of all nations.
Meeting security threats
requires concerted efforts from all countries under the auspices of the United
Nations and the UN Security Council, as well as regional and sub-regional
structures such as the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, and ASEAN
Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), he said.
French Defence Minister
Jean-Yves e Drian asked parties concerned to soon reach a consensus conclusion
of a code of conduct in the East Sea (COC), considering it an effective tool
for preventing disputes and building an environment of peace, stability and prosperity
in the region.
Singaporean Defence
Minister Ng Eng Hen said reducing these threats by developing multilateral
relations and frameworks to restore confidence through cooperation and
consensus.
Meanwhile, the Chinese
delegation failed to explain its groundless East Sea claim. Scholars asked head
of the Chinese delegation, Lieutenant General Wang Guanzhong, to elaborate on
China’s so-called ‘nine-dash line’ in the East Sea.
However, Wang, who is
deputy chief of the general staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, just
said China is preparing for direct negotiations with each of the parties
concerned.
Source: VOV/VNN
