The international community
has expressed deep concern about escalating tensions in the East Sea caused by
China, and several scholars even said the situation may get out of control
unless a viable solution is introduced.
A China Coast Guard ship aggressively firing
water cannons at a Vietnamese boat near the rig
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Tensions have mounted in
the East Sea after China placed its giant floating drilling rig Haiyang
Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf
in early May. Its escort vessels, including warships, have constantly
intimidated and attacked Vietnamese law enforcement boats, injuring people on
board and damaging their property.
Australian Senator Scott
Ryan said parties concerned should respect international law and act in line
with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS).
Australia does not take
sides but has an interest in maintaining peace and stability, respecting
international law and assuring maritime freedom, he said.
He called upon all parties
concerned to exercise restraint and avoid additional provocative acts that may
further complicate the situation.
The governments need to
clarify and follow territorial declarations and maritime rules in line with
international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, Ryan said.
He suggested that China and
ASEAN member countries should promptly conclude a Code of Conduct in the East
Sea (COC) a- a more legally binding document to handle territorial disputes in
the region.
On June 21, US President
Barack Obama urged China and neighbouring nations to peacefully resolve the
East Sea dispute and avoid escalating tensions.
"It is important for
us to be able to resolve disputes like maritime disputes in accordance with
international law, and encourage all parties concerned to maintain a legal
framework for resolving issues, as opposed to possible escalation that could
have an impact on navigation and commerce," said Obama.
Obama made the statement
after meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the White House.
For his part, John Key
clarified New Zealand’s stance that all parties concerned should fully observe
international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, noting this is very crucial to
peace and stability in the region and the world at large.
China’s provocative actions
in the East Sea continue to grab international headlines. Malaysia’s Star
Online on June 22 published an interview with Dr David Arase from the John
Hopkins University-Nanjing University-Centre for Chinese and American Studies.
Dr Arase described China’s
placement of its oil platform, along with the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing
vessel in the disputed area, as a major concern that can cause things to “get
out of control”.
According to Arase, China
considers the East Sea a strategic area and wants to control security in the
region. It recently intensified actions in an attempt to legalise its sovereign
claim [the nine-dash line] in the East Sea, but both Chinese officials and
scholars are not able to explain their claim.
“What this means is that
China’s position is still fluid. Even though it’s being assertive, it’s not yet
quite clear about all the details, so this is a great opportunity for the
countries in the region to respond,” he said.
Dr Arase suggested that
ASEAN should get China to make clear the maritime boundaries which they are
claiming before disputes over borders can be resolved.
Voice of Russia recently
quoted Vasily Kashin, an expert at Russian Strategic Analysis and Technology
Center, warning the US and other regional countries about China’s plan to build
an artificial island in the East Sea.
Kashin believes that the
artificial island will be large enough for a military base with an airfield and
a dock for 5,000-tonne warship and ship.
The New York Times cited
Holly Morrow of Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
who notes that China will exploit oil in its waters and others in the
neighbouring countries to mislead the public that its operation is normal.
The Philippines’ Inquirer
cited Charles Jose, the Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, saying
“China’s provocative and unilateral actions have lent credence to the view that
it is pursuing an aggressive expansion agenda to advance its nine-dash-line
position in the South China Sea [East Sea]”.
Source:
VOV