Admiral Samuel Locklear III, Commander of the US Pacific Command, has voiced his deep concern over tensions in the East Sea after China illegally positioned drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s waters.
“I have serious concerns, I believe that we should first encourage both parties to exercise restraint,” he said in an interview after the World Economic Forum (WEF) session Asia Security Outlook in Manila, the Philippines on May 23.
The commander urged the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) and China to hasten the drafting of a legally binding code of conduct to prevent miscalculations that could trigger armed conflicts and threaten the region’s bustling economies.
Locklear called on parties to exercise restraint and solve “these types of issues through normal types of [mechanisms] that allow them to use international law or an international platform to determine these particular disputes”.
"We look forward to exploring opportunities to expand our partnership with the nations such as Vietnam as well, but Vietnam is among many," Locklear said.-VNA
“I have serious concerns, I believe that we should first encourage both parties to exercise restraint,” he said in an interview after the World Economic Forum (WEF) session Asia Security Outlook in Manila, the Philippines on May 23.
The commander urged the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) and China to hasten the drafting of a legally binding code of conduct to prevent miscalculations that could trigger armed conflicts and threaten the region’s bustling economies.
Locklear called on parties to exercise restraint and solve “these types of issues through normal types of [mechanisms] that allow them to use international law or an international platform to determine these particular disputes”.
"We look forward to exploring opportunities to expand our partnership with the nations such as Vietnam as well, but Vietnam is among many," Locklear said.-VNA
