Dr Takashi Hosoda, a lecturer at the Czech Republic’s Charles University (Photo: VNA) Prague (VNA) – Experts from the Czech Republic have expressed his concerns about the recent militarisation of China in the East Sea while lauding Vietnam’s balanced and open external policy.
Speaking with Vietnam News Agency correspondents, Dr Takashi Hosoda, a lecturer at the Czech Republic’s Charles University, said that the policy has helped the country enhance economic development and consolidate national defence, while promoting the resolution of East Sea disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law.
He reiterated the significance of maintaining security and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and highly valued efforts of nations in the process.
China’s actions have increased tension and negatively affected regional peace and stability, Hosoda said.
The expert also noted that the US, the UK, Australia and Japan, among others, have protested militarisation activities in the East Sea by holding patrols within framework of the freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the area. Besides, he expressed his hope that the US will increase pressure to reduce China’s militarisation in the waters.
Meanwhile, reporter Pavel Herman said the recent situation in the East Sea not only influenced Southeast Asian nations, but also European countries, especially in economy. Tension in the sea negatively affected international trade as there are important sea routes in the area.
Maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea is very important in terms of geopolitics, strategies, economy and navigation security, he said.
According to the reporter, China’s upgrading and building of artificial islands and militarisation activiites in the East Sea violated the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1992 UN Convention on Biological Diversity, threating regional security and stability.
Furthermore, he highly valued reactions of the European Union, the US and other related countries which condemned China’s illegal construction of artificial islands and militarisation activities in the East Sea.-VNA
