Sebastien Brahant, deputy spokesperson for the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Photo:VOA
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(VOVworld)- The European Union on Friday also voiced its concern about the situation in the East Sea. Speaking to VOV correspondent, Sebastien Brahant, deputy spokesperson for the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy expressed concern about recent incidents involving China and Vietnam relating to the movements of the Chinese oil rig 981. Sebastien Brahant said: “Particularly, the EU is concerned that unilateral actions would affect the security environment in the region as there was evidence by the report about the recent collision of Vietanmese and Chinese vessels. We urged all parties concerned to seek peaceful and cooperative solutions in accordance with international law and particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and continue ensuring safety and freedom of navigation. We also call on parties to undertake de-escalating measures and refrain from any unilateral actions which could be detrimental to peace and stability in the region. Of course, the EU will follow the development closely”.
At the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting in preparation for the 24th ASEAN Summit and other related Meetings in Myanmar, ASEAN countries have also expressed deep concern about tension in the East Sea saying that it impacted peace and maritime security and safety in the region. They proposed the grouping adopt a clear stance, requiring parties concerned to comply with international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully observe DOC and reach an agreement on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea as soon as possible, in order to maintain peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the region.
Speaking to VOV, Farhan Haq, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, said that UN Chief Ban Ki Moon is deeply concerned about the increasing tension in the East Sea between Vietnam and China in the past few days. The UN Chief urged concerned parties to restrain and resolve the disputes through peaceful means, dialogues and abide by international laws including the UN Charter.
The same day, the Indian Foreign Ministry released a statement expressing concerns about the tense situation in the East Sea. The Statement noted: “India is following with concerns recent developments in the East Sea and believe that maintenance of peace, stability, growth, and prosperity in the region is of vital interest to the international community. India would like to see resolution of the issue through peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law”.
Chairman of the Indian Vietnamese Solidarity Committee in West Bengal Geetesh Sharma called on Beijing to restrain and conduct negotiations according to international law.
Several US lawmakers criticized China Friday for its "deeply troubling" actions in disputed areas of the East Sea and urged passage of legislation that seeks peaceful solutions to rising maritime tensions. The US lawmakers is from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
International scholars said that China’s acts ran counter to international law and had political attempts. Taylor Fravel, a Professor of Political Science of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who specializes in researching China’s territorial issues, said economically, the area where the rig will drill has few proven or probable hydrocarbon reserves. Moreover, the rig, which cost $1 billion to build, is extremely expensive to operate on a daily basis. Instead, China is most likely using the rig to assert and exercise its jurisdiction over the waters it claims in the East Sea. Professor Fravel stated the rig is located within Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone from its own coastline. The rig is approximately 120 nautical miles from Vietnam’s Ly Son Island and thus on Vietnam’s continental shelf and well within a 200-nautical-mile EEZ.
Meanwhile, Professor Kumao Kaneko, Director of the Japan’s Energy Strategy Research Institute said that China’s claims of interests in most of the East Sea and East China Sea was unacceptable. On the map, the location where China placed its oil rig is closer to Vietnam than to China and it is clear that Vietnam has the rights over this sea area. According to international media, Vietnam can proceed with legal procedures against China’s unreasonable claims to force China to withdraw its oil rig from Vietnam’s continental shelf. The Vietnamese Association in Russia also condemned China’s counter acts against international law and convention. Overseas Vietnamese people in Russia said they were ready to contribute to defending the nation.