DK1 Platform and Tu Chinh Reef or Vanguard Bank are located in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the southern part of the East Sea. (photo: My Tra)

For the second time in a month, Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8 violated Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the southern part of the East Sea. The public is concerned that China’s violations in the East Sea will deteriorate trust, increase tension, and harm stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

Vietnam has contacted China, opposed its repeated serious violation, and demanded China withdraw its survey vessel, Haiyang Dizhi 8, as well as escort ships out of Vietnam’s territorial waters, respect Vietnam’s sovereign right, jurisdiction, and other legitimate rights and interests under the UNCLOS and international law.

The world community denounces China’s violation

China’s actions have caused backlash internationally. Professor Alexander Vuving, a senior expert of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and an academic institute of the US Department of Defense, said China’s bold and perverse violations will challenge the Asia-Pacific. “There are two biggest challenges in the region. China is continuing its path to gain more control in the East Sea and regional maritime space. Secondly, China’s unilaterally infringes international law. If the actions are not prevented, they will establish a new premise in the East Sea that China’s power stands above international law” and force people to accept.”

Many countries have voiced their concern over China’s repeated violation of Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Vietnam has pursued peaceful diplomacy to resolve disputes, insistently demanded China end its violation of Vietnam’s sovereign right and jurisdiction, called for regional unity, and respected international law.  International experts say that international law recognizes public opinions as a measure to ensure law enforcement and a legal foundation to force China to abide by international law.

Professor Vuving said: “Not only coastal countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia but other countries having common interests under international law should cooperate militarily, use law enforcement vessels, and increase capacity to work together to ensure law enforcement in the region. Stronger cooperation is needed to form a powerful front against China’s violation in the East Sea and its “U-shape line” claim and increase pressure on China to change its behaviors.”

Unilateral action is unacceptable

China’s vessels entering Vietnam’s sovereign waters and chasing fishing boats are illegal. China’s ambition and schemes in the East Sea have ignored international law.

The UNCLOS defines that countries have to ask resident countries for permission to explore, exploit, or fish in their exclusive economic zones. Without permission of the sovereign country, such actions are violations of international law and the sovereign right and jurisdiction of the host country.

China’s survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8’s encroachment and exploration in Vietnam’s Tu Chinh Reef or Vanguard Bank has seriously infringed the UNCLOS and the DOC it signed with ASEAN countries in Cambodia.

China has 10 times committed with leaders of Vietnam and ASEAN countries that China always shows its responsibilities in maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea. China’s White Book, published on July 24^th, said it never invades other countries’ sovereignty. China’s exploration in Vietnam’s continental shelf in the south of the East Sea goes against what China has committed with Vietnam and the world. It has deteriorated China’s prestige internationally.