Many international researchers said China’s claims of sovereignty in the East Sea is groundless and has no legal and historical foundation.
General Daniel Schaeffer, former advisor of the French Defence Minister and an expert on the East Sea, said on November 9 that China’s interpretation of international maritime law is illogical.
Beijing has deliberately violated the law or sought ways to take advantage of legal loopholes, he said.
China has never made public specific historical evidence proving its continuous management over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes before Hoang Sa and part of Truong Sa were illegally occupied by the country, the expert noted.
In fact, China used forces to take over the archipelagoes, which runs counter to the UN Charter, he said.
General Shaeffer also spoke highly of Vietnam’s stance on the case filed by the Philippines contesting China’s claims to disputed areas in the East Sea to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
The neutralisation of the “nine-dash line” will benefit not only regional countries but also the international community as the East Sea is an open sea and an important sea route. It will also open up prospects for the settlement of disputes and the demarcation of sovereignty in the region, he said.
Meanwhile, Bruno Hellendorff from the Belgium-based Group for Research and Information on Peace and Security ( GRIP ) hailed Vietnam’s organisation of recent workshops on the East Sea as well as the more active participation of Vietnamese scholars and leaders in East Sea-related international seminars.
Eric Mottet, a professor from Canada’s Quebec University and an expert of the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia ( IRASEC) pointed out China’s contrary signals.
On one hand, China carries out bilateral diplomatic policies to enhance friendly exchanges, especially those in the economic field, with Vietnam. On the other hand, it shows an aggressive attitude towards issues related to sovereignty of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.
Vietnam should promote multi-polar initiatives for the region and increase ASEAN’s solidarity towards constructive partnerships that benefit all parties, he said.-
