(VOVworld) – Admiral Samuel Locklear III, Commander of the US Pacific Command on Friday expressed his concern over the situation in the East Sea after China illegally placed its Haiyang 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Commander of the US Pacific Command Samuel Locklear. (Photo: AFP)

Locklear urged ASEAN and China to promptly hold negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) to prevent risk of miscalculation that could trigger a wider conflict, threatening regional economic growth. The commander called on all parties to show their restraint in order to resolve tensions through normal mechanisms, international law, or an international forum. He said ASEAN and China need to quickly complete their drafting and signing of the COC to prevent territorial disputes from becoming armed conflicts. Admiral Locklear said the US has been strengthening relationships with other countries in the region and hoped to expand its relationship with Vietnam.