The Russian center director for South-east Asia, Australia and Oceania, Mosyakov, has called upon China to stop oil and gas operations in Vietnam's waters and avoid a similar mistake it made in 1992, Radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) said.

Director Mosyakov said that he had followed with keen interest recent tensions in the East Sea after China deployed a giant deep water oil rig and escort vessels, including military ships, in Vietnam’s territorial waters.

In articles published on New Oriental Outlook and Multipolar World magazines, Mosyakov said China’s intentional act was one of its following steps towards claiming its sovereignty in the East Sea that was leading a dramatic escalation in the region.

China’s move received strong objections from Vietnam and the international community.

Professor Mosyakov stressed that China should not repeat a mistake it made in 1992 when it signed a contract with the Creston Energy Corporation of the US to exploit oil in Vietnam’s continental shelf, and later encountered strong opposition from Vietnam.

Regarding recent tensions, Mosyakov said that Vietnam would exert a greater effort to absolutely protect its sovereignty and persistently persuade China to stop provocative acts and abandon its ambitions in the East Sea.

He explained China’s decision had not only complicated the situation but run counter to on-going efforts to strengthen friendship and cooperation between China and Southeast Asian nations.

He called on China to put an immediate end to oil and gas exploration in Vietnam's waters until sovereign disputes in the East Sea are settled completely.-VNA