Chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs, Representative Eliot L. Engel (Photo: VOV)

The statement says that “China’s recent aggression in the East Sea is a disturbing demonstration of a country openly flouting international law. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China’s actions constitute a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty and its legitimate rights within its exclusive economic zone”. Since reports broke last week that Chinese oil exploration ships have entered Vietnam’s EEZ, Vietnam has made repeated requests for their removal—requests that China has willfully ignored. This kind of harassment is a threat to Vietnam and evidence of China’s willingness to bully its neighbors. Engel said in the statement that “incidents like this demonstrate China’s blatant disregard for international law and diplomacy”. He said he supports Vietnam and US regional partners in condemning this aggression. The international community must continue to uphold the rules-based order and international law.He called on China to “immediately withdraw any and all ships from the territorial waters of its neighbours, and to put an end to these illegal bullying tactics.”