Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (R) and Philippine Foreign Minister Albert F. del Rosario at the meeting on Wednesday in Hanoi. (Photo: Reuteurs)

Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng told Filipino Foreign Minister Albert F. del Rosario in Hanoi on Wednesday that he agreed on Mr. Rosario’s view that the situation in the East Sea is getting worse as China illegally placed its oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, regardless international law.
Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng said that nations holding sovereignty over the East Sea and ASEAN member countries have no other way than to unite in the fight to stop China’s violations of international law and other countries’ sovereignty, even bringing the case to international tribunals. He called on the international community to protest and demand China immediately stop its provocative and illegal actions, uphold consistently the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and cooperate to sign a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Earlier, during talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and his Filipino counterpart, the two leaders pledged further cooperation with other ASEAN nations to build a united grouping community and enhance ASEAN Community’s role in regional cooperation. They agreed that ASEAN needs to have a united voice and be responsible for important issues in the region.