Chairman of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs Eliot Engel (C) in Washington, DC. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Washington (VNA) – Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the US Houseof Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs, on July 26 (US time) issued astatement on Chinese interference in Vietnamese-controlled waters, in whichhe said China’s actions constitute a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty andits legitimate rights within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“China’s recent aggression in the South China Sea (called the East Sea byVietnam) is a disturbing demonstration of a country openly flouting internationallaw. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China’s actionsconstitute a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty and its legitimate rightswithin its exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” said the statement.
Since reports broke last week that Chinese oil exploration ships have enteredVietnam’s EEZ, Vietnam has made repeated requests for their removal—requeststhat China has willfully ignored. This kind of harassment is a threat toVietnam and evidence of China’s willingness to bully its neighbours, Engel saidin the statement.
“Incidents like this demonstrate China’s blatant disregard for internationallaw and diplomacy,” he affirmed.
He said he supports Vietnam and US regional partners in condemning thisaggression. The international communitymust continue to uphold the rules-based order and international law, he added.
He called on China to “immediately withdraw any and all ships from theterritorial waters of its neighbours, and to put an end to these illegalbullying tactics.” - VNA
VNA
