A former Vietnamese official has denounced China’s claim that itsdispatch of an oil rig to the East Sea is a ‘normal activity’, citingexpert analysts who argue that the move has triggered a new crisis and asoft invasion of the area.
In his article, former head ofthe National Boundary Commission Tran Cong Truc made it clear that thelocation of the rig is well within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone andcontinental shelf.
China chose this sensitive area tomaintain its groundless sovereignty claim over the so-called XishaIsland by intentionally interpreting the 1982 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in an incorrect way, he said. The act ispart of China’s efforts to materialise its self-proclaimed andunreasonable “nine-dot” territorial claim in the waters, Truc explained.
At the same time, it schemes to create overlapping watersand turn undisputed areas into disputed ones, making it easier to takeadvantage of the idea of setting aside disputes and pursuing jointdevelopment, Truc claimed.
He recalled the year 1974 whenChina used its armed forces to grab Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel)archipelago, over which it has insisted of having historic sovereignty.
In response, Vietnam has asserted that it is the only Statein the history to have occupied and exercised sovereignty over thisarchipelago at least since the 17th century. It has demonstrated thissovereignty obviously, continuously and peacefully and in conformitywith international law concerning the settlement of territorial disputesamong nations. Vietnam has full historical legal grounds to prove andsafeguard its sovereignty over the island.
Truc called onother countries to add their voices against Chinese aggression if theywant to keep this “giant octopus” from deeply penetrating into thewaters, sucking dry natural resources and breaking off the livelihoodsof regional countries.
And at the same time, Vietnam needsto make a strong and effective diplomatic move in line with its strongpolicies with nations in the region and the world over, Truc said. Hesuggested the engagement of international jurisdiction agencies whichaddress disputes regarding the UNCLOS implementation.
It istime for Vietnam to consider taking legal proceedings against China tothe UN’s International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in line withmechanisms provided in the UNCLOS, he stated, adding that neighbourcountries can sustainably bolster their friendship this way.-VNA
In his article, former head ofthe National Boundary Commission Tran Cong Truc made it clear that thelocation of the rig is well within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone andcontinental shelf.
China chose this sensitive area tomaintain its groundless sovereignty claim over the so-called XishaIsland by intentionally interpreting the 1982 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in an incorrect way, he said. The act ispart of China’s efforts to materialise its self-proclaimed andunreasonable “nine-dot” territorial claim in the waters, Truc explained.
At the same time, it schemes to create overlapping watersand turn undisputed areas into disputed ones, making it easier to takeadvantage of the idea of setting aside disputes and pursuing jointdevelopment, Truc claimed.
He recalled the year 1974 whenChina used its armed forces to grab Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel)archipelago, over which it has insisted of having historic sovereignty.
In response, Vietnam has asserted that it is the only Statein the history to have occupied and exercised sovereignty over thisarchipelago at least since the 17th century. It has demonstrated thissovereignty obviously, continuously and peacefully and in conformitywith international law concerning the settlement of territorial disputesamong nations. Vietnam has full historical legal grounds to prove andsafeguard its sovereignty over the island.
Truc called onother countries to add their voices against Chinese aggression if theywant to keep this “giant octopus” from deeply penetrating into thewaters, sucking dry natural resources and breaking off the livelihoodsof regional countries.
And at the same time, Vietnam needsto make a strong and effective diplomatic move in line with its strongpolicies with nations in the region and the world over, Truc said. Hesuggested the engagement of international jurisdiction agencies whichaddress disputes regarding the UNCLOS implementation.
It istime for Vietnam to consider taking legal proceedings against China tothe UN’s International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in line withmechanisms provided in the UNCLOS, he stated, adding that neighbourcountries can sustainably bolster their friendship this way.-VNA
