The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) announced a resolution on the escalating violence in the East Sea at a press conference in Hanoi on June 11.
The resolution stated that on May 2, China placed an oil rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, completely within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Despite Vietnam’s protest, China dispatched over 80 vessels and aircraft, including military ships, to the area. The situation escalated as Chinese vessels rammed and fired water cannons at several of Vietnam’s coast guard and fisheries surveillance ships, inflicting damage and posing a risk of casualties, it says.
IADL has been informed that there have been several incidents directed against Vietnamese fishing boats, damaging some, injuring fishermen and sinking a Vietnamese fishing vessel, the document adds.
After considering these facts, the association has decided to send a letter to the Chinese authorities, asking all relevant sides to solve disputes peacefully and strictly comply with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which China and Vietnam are signatories.
IADL demands China to clarify legal basis of its placement of the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s waters, deployment of vessels and aircraft to the rig’s vicinity, along with its provocative acts such as ramming and firing water cannons at Vietnamese ships.
It calls upon China, as a UN member and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to completely respect and observe the UN Charters and behave in line with its status as a major country in maintaining regional and international peace, stability and security.
In the letter, the organisation also requests the country to respect international law, restrain from actions that may escalate tensions in the region and jeopardise security and safety in the East Sea.-VNA
The resolution stated that on May 2, China placed an oil rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, completely within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Despite Vietnam’s protest, China dispatched over 80 vessels and aircraft, including military ships, to the area. The situation escalated as Chinese vessels rammed and fired water cannons at several of Vietnam’s coast guard and fisheries surveillance ships, inflicting damage and posing a risk of casualties, it says.
IADL has been informed that there have been several incidents directed against Vietnamese fishing boats, damaging some, injuring fishermen and sinking a Vietnamese fishing vessel, the document adds.
After considering these facts, the association has decided to send a letter to the Chinese authorities, asking all relevant sides to solve disputes peacefully and strictly comply with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which China and Vietnam are signatories.
IADL demands China to clarify legal basis of its placement of the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s waters, deployment of vessels and aircraft to the rig’s vicinity, along with its provocative acts such as ramming and firing water cannons at Vietnamese ships.
It calls upon China, as a UN member and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to completely respect and observe the UN Charters and behave in line with its status as a major country in maintaining regional and international peace, stability and security.
In the letter, the organisation also requests the country to respect international law, restrain from actions that may escalate tensions in the region and jeopardise security and safety in the East Sea.-VNA
