(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam has taken correct and timely action on the East Sea issue by sending a diplomatic note to the UN Secretary General to oppose China's claim over the East Sea and assert Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, according to Russian international law researchers and experts.
Professor Vladimir Kolotov of Saint Petersburg University stressed that Vietnam’s act proves it is a responsible member of the international community and that the country is protecting its national interests in line with the UN Charter and the norms of international law.
Sharing Kolotov’s opinion, Grigory Trofimchuk, an international security expert, said the East Sea is not only an issue for Vietnam-China relations or Southeast Asia, it is also an important issue for the UN. He added that the East Sea issue is in the area of direct responsibility of ASEAN, so this organization should be at the forefront of implementing its efforts to stabilize the situation.