Grigory Trofimchuk, Chairman of the Expert Council of the Eurasian Foundation for Support of Scientific Research (Photo: Trend.az)
Moscow (VNA) –Russian researchers studying the East Sea issues have opposed Chinese coast guardship’s hittingand sinking of Vietnamesefishing vessel QNg 90617 TS in the waters of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, sayingthat that the internationalcommunity will supportVietnam.
Talking with Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondents in Russia, Chairman of the Expert Council of theEurasian Foundation for Support of Scientific Research Grigory Trofimchuk saidsuch inappropriate acts of Chinese vessels have been condemned by the public, but China has still deliberately ignored.
He said China should exercise self-restraint and avoid similar acts, and stay calm to properly settle existingissues through peaceful measures.
According to the expert, the incident occurred amid rising uncertainties acrossthe world, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which could worsenthe East Sea issue.
He noted that as the number of similar incidents is increasing steadily, researcherswill pay attention to and condemn them at international seminars and forums onthe East Sea issue.
In every circumstance,Vietnam is not alone in the East Sea issue, he stressed, expressing his belief that the international community will raise their voice tosupport Vietnam.
Trofimchuksuggested thatVietnam should take full advantageof its internationaltools, including its non-permanentmembership of the UnitedNations Security Council, as well as cooperation mechanisms withinthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially when the countryholds the bloc’s chairmanship this year.
Sharing the same opinion with Trofimchuk, Prof. Vladimur Kolotov from the SaintPetersburg State University saidChina is making corrupt use of the time when many countries worldwide, including Russia andthe US, are pooling resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, to increase its influence in the East Sea.
He recommended regional countries to stay alert against a new wave of escalating tensions in the East Sea, amid the complicateddevelopments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world.
Earlier, while answeringto reporters’ queries about the incident, spokeswoman of the Vietnamese ForeignMinistry Le Thi Thu Hang said on April 3 that Vietnam has sufficient legalgrounds and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa(Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in accordance withinternational law.
Such an act by the China coast guard ship violates Vietnam’s sovereigntyover the Paracel islands, causing damage, threatening the safety of life andthe legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.
It also went against the common perception of senior leaders ofthe two countries on the humane treatment of fishermen and the Vietnam-China agreementon the basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues, and incontrary to the spirit of the Declaration of Conduct of the Parties in the EastSea (DOC), which complicates the situation and is not conducive to thebilateral relations as well as the maintenance of peace, stability andcooperation in the East Sea, she said./.
