In recent days, many major
French newspapers have run more articles protesting against China’s unjustified
hegemony and its illegal placement of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyoug-981 in the
East Sea.
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The Le Monde (the World) newspaper
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The Le Figaro newspaper in
its June 20 issue attributed China’s stationing of its floating oil rig in the
East Sea in early May to violent attacks against China in Vietnam. The article
also affirmed that with the deployment of its second drilling rig last week,
China continues to inflame island conflicts with Vietnam.
The same day, the
(l'Humanité) newspaper also published an article about China’s decision to
place additional four rigs in the East.
The article confirmed that
China's actions increasingly show its territorial ambitions in the waters
bordering with neighboring countries. It quoted a brazen declaration
challenging the international public of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Hua Chunying as saying that everyone has the right to do everything in their
house regardless of others’ concern.
Currently, two of four
Chinese drilling rigs are located in offshore Hong Kong and another one is on
its way to head for the area where China had installed wells five years ago.
The homepage of the Le
Monde (the World) newspaper on June 23 had an article by correspondent in
Southeast Asia Bruno Philip who conducted a recent fact-finding tour of the
site where China illegally put its drilling platform 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive
economic zone (EEZ).
In his capacity as a
witnesses on board the Vietnam Coast Guard ship, author Bruno Philip
realistically portrayed what he have witnessed with his naked eyes when Chinese
vessels, with colors and specific codes chased and threatened maritime safety
for Vietnamese ships and how Vietnamese law enforcement forces have managed to
escape the "trap" of Chinese ships to avoid collisions and
unnecessary damage.
Bruno Philip said China
only confirmed its presence on the Hoang Sa(Paracel) archipelago since it
occupied Hoang Sain 1974 and earlier, the archipelago was under the management
of Vietnam Republic regime.
The article cited an
affirmation by Vietnamese historian Tran Duc Anh Son saying that Vietnam has
its full legal sovereignty since the King Gia Long dynasty (1816) during
which the Nguyen administration applied tax collection for fishermen in Hoang
Sa.
In early 1920s, the French
colonial government asserted its sovereignty over the archipelago with the
construction of lighthouses and transmitting and receiving stations TSF on the
Paracel Islands and a meteorological station on the Phu Lam Island (Boisee).
However, although Vietnam
declared sufficient evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel
archipelago, China is persisting with its misconduct going against
international law with the intention of "monopolizing" the whole East
Sea.
The author exposed Chinese
slanderous accusations of Vietnamese ships of having "active
collision" with Chinese vessels, and released footages of Chinese vessels
firing water cannons and sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat on May 26.
Also on June 23, the Le
Monde newspaper carried a commentary titled” China imposes its conditions in
the East Sea” by journalist Brice Pedroletti. The author stated that the recent
actions by China with regional neighbors such as Japan, the Philippines and
Vietnam are breaking the status quo and regional stability and raising doubts
and concern about this country’s "peaceful rise" fact.
The commentary cited a
study by a Western expert as saying that China’s East Sea hegemony aims to meet
four needs: First, finding a way out for high waters to serve fleets and
strategic submarine bases in Hainan; Second, protecting and controlling trade and
shipping routes running through the area; Third, ensuring security of natural
resources, and oil and gas exploitation and exploration; Fourth, satisfying a
section of public opinion which is nurturing Chinese nationalism.
The commentary ironically
criticized "China’s dream" about "a great renaissance
period" with Chinese claim over "U-shaped" line contrary to
international law which faced international opposition.
The author also quoted
researcher Yang Danzhi from the French Academy of Social Sciences warning that
“China is trying to do something that never done in the past "to carry out
a "strategic opportunity era” with a political and economic environment
conducive to China’s rise.
It is worth noting that a
French article commented for the first time China's aggressive intentions and
ways to use civilian force in replacement of military force in sovereignty
conflicts.
The author quoted a
statement from Zhang Jiangang, director of the China Maritime Strategy
Research Centre under Guangdong Ocean University published on Global Times
newspaper on June 15 stating China did not apply a rigid concept of peaceful
development in defending sovereignty and territorial integrity as it used 10%
of power and 90% of negotiations to resolve the conflicts. These show China’s
increasingly aggressive acts in settling conflicts with other countries.
Last week radio station
France Info broadcast for the first time a series of reportages by reporter
Reltien Philippe who came to the position where China illegally placed its oil
rig 981 in Vietnam’s EEZ.
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France Info website
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These reportages with the
lively siren, voices and sound through his description and quotations are seen
as strong evidence for aggressive actions of Chinese ships when attacking and
chasing Vietnamese law enforcement ships.
Journalist Philippe Reltien
pointed out Chinese occupation of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago in 1974,
flatly rebuked China’s unjustified claims in the imposition of
"Nine-dash" line, which accounts for 80% of the East Sea’s area.
Especially, contrary to the
statement of the Chinese spokesperson on the cause of Chinese withdrawal of
3,000 workers after riots in Vietnam, journalist Philippe Reltien reiterated
that China’s current wrongful acts in the East Sea is now showing China as
"aggressor".
China's actions demonstrate
the reality of its dangerous "hegemony" in the East Sea, he
concluded.
Source:
VOV
