Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s important speech on security challenges in Asia, especially in the East Sea, delivered in Berlin, Germany on October 17, has attracted the special attention of the German press and academics.

Talking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Germany , Dr. Gerhard Will, an expert in international politics, said that PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s viewpoint that disputes in the East Sea should be settled in accordance to international law is in line with the consistent policy of Germany and the European Union on the issue.

In response to questions on the German and EU strategies to ensure peace, security and stability in the East Sea , Gerhard Will said the German Government and the EU are likely to include the East Sea issue in international forums or multilateral cooperation mechanisms, as mentioned during the 10 th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Milan , Italy .

Germany and the EU can also support specific measures on the East Sea issue put forth by Vietnam or other ASEAN member nations, he added.

With regards to China ’s efforts to build an artificial island near Gac Ma island in Vietnam ’s Truong Sa archipelago, he said China is acting unilaterally to establish territorial possessions.

The German expert declared China ’s move to be contradictory to its commitments manifested in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

He added that if China does not end its current acts, its economy will be affected since the country will not be able to continue its unilateral efforts to claim sovereignty in the East Sea and at the same time maintain political and economic partnerships with ASEAN member states.-VNA