Italian and Argentinean experts have recently reprimanded China for using force in the East Sea.

In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency correspondents, Chair of Italy’s Centre for International Studies Andrea Margeletti said China has gained great strides in the past 15 years and become an economic power. This has had a considerable impact on territorial disputes in the East Sea.

China has begun using its considerably intensified military strength to intimidate all countries who are locking horns with it over disputes, escalating tensions between China and the region, he added.

The expert said in the future, Asia in general and Southeast Asia in particular will be a particularly important region in the world. Therefore, such disputes should be solved through diplomatic channels by various sides, not only by those directly involved in disputes.

Meanwhile, at a Vietnam-themed talk in Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires, Juan Carlos Minghetti from the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CIEYS) said China’s deployment of an oil rig together with military ships and aircraft to Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf shows that China is trying to settle disputes through military measures.

He stressed that although China wants to exploit more oil and gas to satisfy economic demand, it must respect the sovereignty of neighbouring countries.

Minghetti also expressed his hope that divergences between China and Vietnam will be handled through diplomatic measures and dialogue between the two countries’ leaders.

Sharing the same view, Eduardo R.Hernandez from the Hector P.Agosti Research and Training Centre said China has conducted inappropriate activities towards Vietnam in sea and island issues, and called upon all sides concerned to enter into negotiations.

At the beginning of May 2014, China illegally dispatched the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 to Vietnam’s waters and positioned the rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location is 80 miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

Chinese ships have continuously encircled, constrained and driven away Vietnamese fishing boats and even injured Vietnamese fishermen, threatening their lives.

On May 26, Chinese ship 11209 sank a Vietnamese fishing vessel while it was operating normally in its traditional fishing ground near Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

On May 27, China moved the rig to 15 degrees 33 minutes 22 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 36 seconds east longitude. The new location is 25 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago and 23 nautical miles east-northeast from the old location, still completely within Vietnam’s continental shelf.

As of June 3, the oil rig maintained its position at 15 degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 11 seconds east longitude. The location is 25 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, completely within Vietnam’s continental shelf.-VNA