China’s construction of large-scale artificial islands in the Truong Sa(Spratly) archipelago and its deployment of weaponry to these islandshave brazenly violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, concerning neighbouringcountries and the international community regarding security, safety andfreedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea.
The issues also attracted great interest and was the focus ofdiscussions at the 14 th Shangri-la Dialogue, recently held inSingapore.
According to Colonel Vu Khanh, aVietnamese expert on international affairs, participating experts andscholars raised scores of questions about China’s acts and itsinconsistent explanations for warning US surveillance plane and warshipsto leave the airspace above and near the artificial islands China isdeveloping in the East Sea.
However, the Chineserepresentative declined to reply to the questions, instead reading aprepared document that sought to calm other countries down whilepromising to discuss the East Sea situation.
China’s oblique response disappointed questioners and listeners, Khanh said.
In his speech at the dialogue, US Defence Secretary Ashton Cartercriticised China’s land reclamation in the East Sea as out of step withinternational rules, affirming that turning underwater rock intoairfields won’t expand its sovereignty.
According toa report presented to the US Senate’s Foreign Affairs Commission, Chinahas conducted sea encroachment and built large-scale works in the areasit is occupying illegally in the Truong Sa archipelago, especially inGaven reef (around 15 hectares), Gac Ma reef (13.2 hectares), Chau Vien(24 hectares), Huy Go (9.2 hectares) and Chu Thap (nearly 180 hectares).
Since 2014, China has reclaimed nearly 2,000 acres(800 hectares). Together with land reclamation, China’s “nine-dash line”claims, illegal installation of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig inVietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, unilateral banof fishing in the peak season, and blocking two Filipino vessels fromsupplying marines stationed on Co May shoal have worried theinternational community that China intends to make undisputed watersinto disputed ones and expand its military presence in the East Sea.
On April 9, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson stated thatthe country’s land reclamation is aimed at better carrying out itsinternational responsibility and obligation in maritime search andrescue, disaster prevention and mitigation and marine science andresearch, as well as to better safeguard territorial sovereignty andmaritime rights and interests and serve necessary military defenceactivities.
However, the reefs it has reclaimed likeChau Vien, Chu Thap, Gaven, Gac Ma, Tu Nghi and Su Bi do not belong toChina. They are in fact reefs of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago whichChina used force to occupy in 1988. Therefore, China’s explanation ofsafeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interestsetc is just pure sophistry.
The Chineserepresentative stressed that the reclamation and construction ofartificial islands as well as protecting the open sea is China’s“national development needs”! But does he not know that China’s“national development needs” are being carried out on the territory ofanother country?
At the 14th Shangri-La Dialogue,China admitted to building many architectures on reefs in the East Sea,saying that the construction mainly aims at improving the working andliving conditions of those who are living there. However, its deploymentof weaponry to several islands runs counter to its statement that theland reclamation is for civil purposes.
In fact,China’s explanations about its recent moves in the East Sea seem toundermine others’ trust in it, which is a power, a permanent member ofthe UN Security Council.
Hoang Sa (Paracel) andTruong Sa archipelagos have long been an integral part of Vietnam whoestablished and has exercised its sovereignty over the two archipelagoscontinually since at least the 17 th century.
SinceChina began construction of artificial islands in Truong Sa, Vietnamhas repeatedly confirmed its stance of resolutely rejecting China’s“nine-dash line” claims and its claims over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa andsurrounding waters.
Vietnam has also demanded thecountry immediately desist its illegal construction of artificialislands and deployment of weaponry to the areas while sitting down tonegotiate the signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.-VNA
The issues also attracted great interest and was the focus ofdiscussions at the 14 th Shangri-la Dialogue, recently held inSingapore.
According to Colonel Vu Khanh, aVietnamese expert on international affairs, participating experts andscholars raised scores of questions about China’s acts and itsinconsistent explanations for warning US surveillance plane and warshipsto leave the airspace above and near the artificial islands China isdeveloping in the East Sea.
However, the Chineserepresentative declined to reply to the questions, instead reading aprepared document that sought to calm other countries down whilepromising to discuss the East Sea situation.
China’s oblique response disappointed questioners and listeners, Khanh said.
In his speech at the dialogue, US Defence Secretary Ashton Cartercriticised China’s land reclamation in the East Sea as out of step withinternational rules, affirming that turning underwater rock intoairfields won’t expand its sovereignty.
According toa report presented to the US Senate’s Foreign Affairs Commission, Chinahas conducted sea encroachment and built large-scale works in the areasit is occupying illegally in the Truong Sa archipelago, especially inGaven reef (around 15 hectares), Gac Ma reef (13.2 hectares), Chau Vien(24 hectares), Huy Go (9.2 hectares) and Chu Thap (nearly 180 hectares).
Since 2014, China has reclaimed nearly 2,000 acres(800 hectares). Together with land reclamation, China’s “nine-dash line”claims, illegal installation of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig inVietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, unilateral banof fishing in the peak season, and blocking two Filipino vessels fromsupplying marines stationed on Co May shoal have worried theinternational community that China intends to make undisputed watersinto disputed ones and expand its military presence in the East Sea.
On April 9, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson stated thatthe country’s land reclamation is aimed at better carrying out itsinternational responsibility and obligation in maritime search andrescue, disaster prevention and mitigation and marine science andresearch, as well as to better safeguard territorial sovereignty andmaritime rights and interests and serve necessary military defenceactivities.
However, the reefs it has reclaimed likeChau Vien, Chu Thap, Gaven, Gac Ma, Tu Nghi and Su Bi do not belong toChina. They are in fact reefs of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago whichChina used force to occupy in 1988. Therefore, China’s explanation ofsafeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interestsetc is just pure sophistry.
The Chineserepresentative stressed that the reclamation and construction ofartificial islands as well as protecting the open sea is China’s“national development needs”! But does he not know that China’s“national development needs” are being carried out on the territory ofanother country?
At the 14th Shangri-La Dialogue,China admitted to building many architectures on reefs in the East Sea,saying that the construction mainly aims at improving the working andliving conditions of those who are living there. However, its deploymentof weaponry to several islands runs counter to its statement that theland reclamation is for civil purposes.
In fact,China’s explanations about its recent moves in the East Sea seem toundermine others’ trust in it, which is a power, a permanent member ofthe UN Security Council.
Hoang Sa (Paracel) andTruong Sa archipelagos have long been an integral part of Vietnam whoestablished and has exercised its sovereignty over the two archipelagoscontinually since at least the 17 th century.
SinceChina began construction of artificial islands in Truong Sa, Vietnamhas repeatedly confirmed its stance of resolutely rejecting China’s“nine-dash line” claims and its claims over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa andsurrounding waters.
Vietnam has also demanded thecountry immediately desist its illegal construction of artificialislands and deployment of weaponry to the areas while sitting down tonegotiate the signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.-VNA
