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France, Germany and the UK on August 29 released a joint statement expressing their concern about the situation in the South China Sea( known as East Sea in Vietnam) which they said could lead to insecurity and instability in the region.​

Countries should not give up the efforts to cite, utilise and adopt international norms for the peaceful settlement of the problems in the East Sea, President of the Geopolitics Institute of the Republic of Korea (RoK), Professor Lee Woong-Hyeon has said.

US national security advisor John Bolton on August 20 accused China of using “bullying tactics” in the increasingly tense waters of the East Sea.

Vietnam has made contact with China to oppose its repeated serious violation and demand the country to withdraw its survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 and escort ships out of Vietnam’s territorial waters, the Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said on August 16.

Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) are two big archipelagos with key strategic locations among Vietnam’s islands, and the country’s sovereignty over them is clearly reflected through historical documents.

Vietnam has always upheld the principles and goals of the United Nations Convention on the 1982 Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) while contributing to the implementation of the convention.

Vietnam has long been persistent and consistent in safeguarding its national sovereignty in the East Sea through peaceful measures on the basis of international law to maintain peace, stability, security and cooperation at sea for the legitimate interests of all parties.

Over the years, Vietnam has consistently complied with the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and taken peaceful measures in line with this treaty to safeguard its sea areas, a Foreign Ministry official has said.

The year 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982) and also the 25th year since Vietnam ratified the convention.

China’s survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 had halted its geological survey activities in Vietnam’s UNCLOS-defined exclusive economic zone and southeastern continental shelf on August 7, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on August 8.

The East Sea issue has attracted great attention from the countries participating in the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-52) and related meetings, given the recent developments in the waters, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung.

India on August 1 affirmed its “genuine and legitimate” interests in peace and stability in the East Sea, and called on relevant parties to abide by international law.

Delegates to the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-52) in Bangkok on July 31 discussed the building of the ASEAN Community and foreign relations, and reviewed preparations for year-end summits, as well as exchanged ideas on international and regional issues of common concern.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on July 31 expressed his grave concern over the recent developments in the East Sea, with Chinese geological survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8’s activities violating Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the waters.

Ely Ratner, former Deputy National Security Advisor to former Vice President Joe Biden, on July 29 (local time) posted on his Twitter a letter of four US senators opposing China’s actions in the South China Sea.

Defence Secretary of the Philippines Delfin Lorenzana on July 30 criticized China for what he called "bullying" actions in the East Sea and said Beijing's peaceful assurances contrast with its behaviour in the contested waters.

Vietnam actively participated in the negotiation process and building of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and has made significant efforts in enforcing the pact.

Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, on July 26 (US time) issued a statement on Chinese interference in Vietnamese-controlled waters, in which he said China’s actions constitute a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty and its legitimate rights within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The 9th annual CSIS East Sea conference took place in Washington D.C on July 24, focusing on challenges in managing disputes in the sea and international interests related to the sea.

The US Department of State on (DoS) has expressed concern over reports that China is hampering other countries’ oil and gas activities in the East Sea, and said its acts threaten regional peace and security, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.