Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Deputy Director-General of the Institute forEast Sea Studies, at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam wrote for theStraits Times on May 13 about China’s unilateral act in the EastSea and ASEAN’s attitude towards China’s act.
Following is Son’s article:
In preparing for the 24th Asean Summit in Myanmar, member statesstudied ways to respond positively to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang'sOctober 2013 proposal for an Asean-China Treaty on Good Neighbourliness,Friendship and Cooperation. They also looked at his proposal for thejoint construction of a peaceful "Maritime Silk Road for the 21stCentury".
Then, just before the summit, China demonstratedits "friendliness" to Asean with the silkiest present of all. It sent abillion-dollar floating oil drilling platform deep into Vietnam 'sexclusive economic zone and continental shelf. It also rammed Vietnamesesurveillance vessels and fired at them with high-powered water cannon,severely injuring several crew members. At the same time, the Chinesemedia called on China to teach Vietnam a lesson if it dared toprotest.
China's actions were completely contrary to thediplomatic steps it had taken since last year to improve Asean-Chinarelations and bring back confidence in the region, by charming itsneighbours with promises of restraint and win-win cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's decision to visit Asean in his firstoverseas trip as foreign minister in May last year raised hopes in Aseanthat China was giving first priority to peripheral diplomacy. It alsosuggested that China viewed Asean as a valuable strategic partner.
Asean wholeheartedly welcomed the visits of China's PresidentXi Jinping and Premier Li to South-east Asia in October last year.Asean was truly enthusiastic and hopeful about Beijing 's proposalson the future of the region. Asean states also welcomed President Xi'shistoric remarks to the Indonesian Parliament when he stated that Aseanand China should build "trust and develop good neighbourliness" and"stick together through thick and thin".
Asean was furtherencouraged by Premier Li's proposal on the 10th anniversary of theAsean-China Strategic Partnership to turn Asean-China relations from a"golden decade" to a "diamond decade" with a Treaty of GoodNeighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, including the adoption of"common and cooperative security".
China indicated that itsMaritime Silk Road for the 21st Century initiative was inspired byAdmiral Zheng He's peaceful voyages to South-east Asia in the 15thcentury. These voyages were not about gaining new territories, but aboutcommerce and expanding Chinese civilisation.
As a result ofthese diplomatic statements by Chinese leaders, Asean was hopeful thatChina was changing its approach to its maritime disputes with itsneighbours. Asean leaders were closer to becoming convinced that " China's dream" could also be made " South-east Asia 's dream".
Asean responded in kind to China 's goodwill, seizing every opportunityto build confidence and cement a good relationship with the newleadership in China . It promptly "noted and appreciated" China 'sproposal for a new Friendship Treaty, and supported the Asean-ChinaMaritime Cooperation Partnership.
Asean also agreed to fullyand effectively implement the Asean-China Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the South China Sea (East Sea) (DOC). Furthermore, itactively proposed confidence-building measures. Asean and China thenbegan consultations on the much-awaited binding Code of Conduct in theSouth China Sea (East Sea). Indeed, progress was being made duringthe consultations.
Thus, for the first time in years, theoverall situation in the South China Sea (East Sea) was calmer,with both sides exercising restraint. There were certainly fewerincidents. All this took place despite the fact that China issued newHainan fishing regulations and Chinese officials made statements aboutthe prospect of China introducing an air defence identification zonein the South China Sea (East Sea).
It was, therefore, acomplete shock to Asean and the international community when Chinasent its biggest oil rig into its neighbour's backyard, claiming themaritime area as its own.
China attempted to intimidateVietnam with a large fleet of both military and paramilitary vessels.At the same time, it dismissed calls to resolve the dispute throughdialogue and other peaceful means.
The dangerous escalationinvolved the use of vessels from various agencies and provinces inChina. This suggests that the actions were deliberate, well-plannedand coordinated from Beijing.
Such activities threatenregional peace and stability. They are inconsistent with internationallaw and disregard Beijing's pledge to fully and effectivelyimplement the DOC. Furthermore, they are totally contrary to friendlygestures made to Asean by Chinese leaders since last year.
China's latest highly provocative actions prove that China is nolonger a status quo power, and is actively seeking to re-establish aChina-dominated regional order in South-east Asia.
Chineseleaders in Beijing must ask themselves what kind of a great power theywant China to become. Is it really in China 's long-terminterests to undermine its own credibility and image by actingcompletely contrary to the pledges of its own leadership? Is it inChina 's interests to stir up regional tensions and sacrifice thepeaceful and cooperative environment that was being developed last year?
The leadership in Beijing often says that a peaceful andcooperative environment in the region is a prerequisite for China'sdevelopment because it will allow China to focus on domestic issues,in particular on economic restructuring and reform, and to seize the"strategic opportunity" to catch up economically with the UnitedStates and the West.
If China thinks the US is using theSouth China Sea ( East Sea ) to drive a wedge between Asean andChina, Beijing can prevent this easily by simply agreeing to adopt acode of conduct with Asean. China's assertiveness in the South ChinaSea ( East Sea ), on the other hand, only encourages USintervention.
Asean has been serious about building goodneighbourliness, friendship and cooperative relationships with China .If China loses Asean's trust and friendship, it will be the firstcountry in history to seek great power status with no true friends amongits neighbours.-VNA
Following is Son’s article:
In preparing for the 24th Asean Summit in Myanmar, member statesstudied ways to respond positively to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang'sOctober 2013 proposal for an Asean-China Treaty on Good Neighbourliness,Friendship and Cooperation. They also looked at his proposal for thejoint construction of a peaceful "Maritime Silk Road for the 21stCentury".
Then, just before the summit, China demonstratedits "friendliness" to Asean with the silkiest present of all. It sent abillion-dollar floating oil drilling platform deep into Vietnam 'sexclusive economic zone and continental shelf. It also rammed Vietnamesesurveillance vessels and fired at them with high-powered water cannon,severely injuring several crew members. At the same time, the Chinesemedia called on China to teach Vietnam a lesson if it dared toprotest.
China's actions were completely contrary to thediplomatic steps it had taken since last year to improve Asean-Chinarelations and bring back confidence in the region, by charming itsneighbours with promises of restraint and win-win cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's decision to visit Asean in his firstoverseas trip as foreign minister in May last year raised hopes in Aseanthat China was giving first priority to peripheral diplomacy. It alsosuggested that China viewed Asean as a valuable strategic partner.
Asean wholeheartedly welcomed the visits of China's PresidentXi Jinping and Premier Li to South-east Asia in October last year.Asean was truly enthusiastic and hopeful about Beijing 's proposalson the future of the region. Asean states also welcomed President Xi'shistoric remarks to the Indonesian Parliament when he stated that Aseanand China should build "trust and develop good neighbourliness" and"stick together through thick and thin".
Asean was furtherencouraged by Premier Li's proposal on the 10th anniversary of theAsean-China Strategic Partnership to turn Asean-China relations from a"golden decade" to a "diamond decade" with a Treaty of GoodNeighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, including the adoption of"common and cooperative security".
China indicated that itsMaritime Silk Road for the 21st Century initiative was inspired byAdmiral Zheng He's peaceful voyages to South-east Asia in the 15thcentury. These voyages were not about gaining new territories, but aboutcommerce and expanding Chinese civilisation.
As a result ofthese diplomatic statements by Chinese leaders, Asean was hopeful thatChina was changing its approach to its maritime disputes with itsneighbours. Asean leaders were closer to becoming convinced that " China's dream" could also be made " South-east Asia 's dream".
Asean responded in kind to China 's goodwill, seizing every opportunityto build confidence and cement a good relationship with the newleadership in China . It promptly "noted and appreciated" China 'sproposal for a new Friendship Treaty, and supported the Asean-ChinaMaritime Cooperation Partnership.
Asean also agreed to fullyand effectively implement the Asean-China Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the South China Sea (East Sea) (DOC). Furthermore, itactively proposed confidence-building measures. Asean and China thenbegan consultations on the much-awaited binding Code of Conduct in theSouth China Sea (East Sea). Indeed, progress was being made duringthe consultations.
Thus, for the first time in years, theoverall situation in the South China Sea (East Sea) was calmer,with both sides exercising restraint. There were certainly fewerincidents. All this took place despite the fact that China issued newHainan fishing regulations and Chinese officials made statements aboutthe prospect of China introducing an air defence identification zonein the South China Sea (East Sea).
It was, therefore, acomplete shock to Asean and the international community when Chinasent its biggest oil rig into its neighbour's backyard, claiming themaritime area as its own.
China attempted to intimidateVietnam with a large fleet of both military and paramilitary vessels.At the same time, it dismissed calls to resolve the dispute throughdialogue and other peaceful means.
The dangerous escalationinvolved the use of vessels from various agencies and provinces inChina. This suggests that the actions were deliberate, well-plannedand coordinated from Beijing.
Such activities threatenregional peace and stability. They are inconsistent with internationallaw and disregard Beijing's pledge to fully and effectivelyimplement the DOC. Furthermore, they are totally contrary to friendlygestures made to Asean by Chinese leaders since last year.
China's latest highly provocative actions prove that China is nolonger a status quo power, and is actively seeking to re-establish aChina-dominated regional order in South-east Asia.
Chineseleaders in Beijing must ask themselves what kind of a great power theywant China to become. Is it really in China 's long-terminterests to undermine its own credibility and image by actingcompletely contrary to the pledges of its own leadership? Is it inChina 's interests to stir up regional tensions and sacrifice thepeaceful and cooperative environment that was being developed last year?
The leadership in Beijing often says that a peaceful andcooperative environment in the region is a prerequisite for China'sdevelopment because it will allow China to focus on domestic issues,in particular on economic restructuring and reform, and to seize the"strategic opportunity" to catch up economically with the UnitedStates and the West.
If China thinks the US is using theSouth China Sea ( East Sea ) to drive a wedge between Asean andChina, Beijing can prevent this easily by simply agreeing to adopt acode of conduct with Asean. China's assertiveness in the South ChinaSea ( East Sea ), on the other hand, only encourages USintervention.
Asean has been serious about building goodneighbourliness, friendship and cooperative relationships with China .If China loses Asean's trust and friendship, it will be the firstcountry in history to seek great power status with no true friends amongits neighbours.-VNA
