China’s warships in the East Sea. (Photo: AP)

Last year France became the first European country to announce a defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific under which French warships will constantly patrol the East Sea to defend freedom of navigation there. 

French scholars have expressed particular concern about recent developments in the East Sea. 

“We’ve kept a close eye on the situation in the South China Sea because this is a very sensitive area for the world. Nearly half of the world's maritime trade goes through this area. We have decided to study the issue carefully from legal, economic, environmental, and historical perspectives,” said Alain Obadia, Chairman of the Gabriel Péri Foundation.

Over the past few years, the UK’s Royal Navy has increased its presence in the East Sea, with warships moving freely or participating in exercises with US forces.

Germany has recently begun to pay increasing attention to the Indo-Pacific. 

Daniel Scheaffer, a senior researcher on the East Sea, said, “Currently the South China Sea situation is very tense because of the so-called 9-dash or 10-dash line, because of China's refusal to accept the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, and because the parties involved haven’t found common ground in their sovereignty disputes.”