(VOVworld) – The world community continued to express concerns over escalating tension in the East Sea especially after China issued a vertical atlas that expands Beijing’s claim over the East Sea.

A map issued by China (Photo: Chinadaily)

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday issued a statement saying that the new map, using a 10-dash line as demarcation, shows China’s unreasonably expansive claim that is clearly contrary to international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982. The Philippines’ Inquirer newspaper quoted experts saying that this is China’s latest provocative act after its illegal building in rocky areas belonging to Truong Sa archipelago with the aim of totally occupying the East Sea.

The website of the Voice of America on Thursday reported on the East Sea situation, saying that tension was still mounting. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel criticized China’s recent acts in the East Sea, stressing that it had ignored diplomatic and peaceful measures to resolve the dispute.

In an interview with La Croix newspaper, Head of the Asia Department of the Foundation for Strategic Research, Valerie Niquet, said China was using its ambitious power in the East Sea to conceal its internal instability. Meanwhile, Ezequiel Ramoneda, Coordinator of the Southeast Asia Research Center under the National University of La Plata, Argentina, condemned China for violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 and exerting its power. Experts said China was threatening stability in the Southeast Asia and regional maritime freedom.