Foreign experts call China’s actions in East Sea breaches of international law
Foreign experts have condemned China’s recent actions in the East Sea, saying its moves have escalated tensions in the region and infringed upon international law.
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| TIN LIÊN QUAN | |
 | EU Ambassador to ASEAN voices concern over unilateral actions in East Sea |
| Vietnam refutes China’s sovereign claims in East Sea |
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| Small fishing boats off the coast of the central city of Da Nang. (Photo: VNA) |
Derek Grossman, a senior analyst at the US-based RAND Corporation, said there is general agreement that China has been bullying its neighbours with such moves, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
He believes that these acts may fuel security uncertainties in the region and even escalate tensions.
James Rogers, Director of the Global Britain Programme at the UK-based Henry Jackson Society, said that China’s claim of sovereignty over almost the entire East Sea via the so-called “nine-dash line” is groundless and violates international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He held that the recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinese coast guard vessel in the vicinity of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago was dangerous and unacceptable.
China’s unlawful sovereignty claims and excessive actions in the East Sea are undermining international law and causing insecurity in the region, he noted, adding that countries that comply with international law and those that play a major role in protecting the law-based international system need to condemn such actions.
Meanwhile, the Russian news agency ANNA-News quoted experts in the country as describing China’s recent naming of geographical features in the East Sea as a breach of international law.
They said that according to the 1982 UNCLOS, states cannot claim sovereignty over an underwater object if it is not within 12 nautical miles of baselines. China’s naming of islands, reefs, and features on the seabed of the East Sea is therefore groundless and violates international law.
ANNA-News also noted that, in recent years, China’s creation of artificial islands and the development of infrastructure in the waters have faced international discontent.
Russian specialists earlier condemned China’s declaration of the establishment of two districts within so-called “Sansha city”, saying the move runs counter to international law.
On the Times of India, journalist Rudroneel Ghosh wrote that China’s establishment of “Xisha district” (which in fact is Vietnam’s Hoang Sa Archipelago) and “Nansha district” (which is Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago) within so-called “Sansha city” is a unilateral move and undermines regional stability.
| On April 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang stated that: “Vietnam has strongly affirmed many times that it has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation testifying to its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagos.” She highlighted Vietnam’s consistent viewpoint that it strongly objects to the establishment of so-called “Sansha city” and related actions, as they have seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, been valueless, unrecognized, and not beneficial to friendship among countries, and have complicated the situation in the East Sea, the region, and the world. “Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, abolish wrongful decisions made relating to these moves, and not commit similar acts in the future,” the spokesperson added. |
 | Vietnam rejects China's establishment of so-called Sansha city Vietnam strongly opposes the establishment of the so-called “Sansha city” and related acts carried out by China as they seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty, said Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry ... |
 | US voices concern over China’s sinking of Vietnamese fishing vessel in East Sea The US Department of Defence issued a statement on April 9 expressing its deep concern over a Chinese coast guard's collision with and sinking of ... |
 | Philippines issues statement on China's sinking of Vietnamese fishing vessel in the East Sea The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on April 8 issued a statement expressing its deep concern over a China coast guard ship’s hitting and sinking of ... |
(Source: VNA)
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