Recent tensions in the East Sea after China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf were the topic of a seminar recently held by the Asian Commission of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI) in Buenos Aires.

In his statement, Vietnam Ambassador in Argentina Nguyen Dinh Thao stated that China's actions violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), running counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) to which China signed with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2002.

Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundations to assert its indisputable sovereignty over the two archipelagoes Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) in the East Sea, Thao said while reiterating Vietnam's policy of peacefully settling disputes in the East Sea on the basis of international law in order to maintain peace and security in the region and the rest of the world.

For his part, Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Maria Amelita C. Aquino also criticized China's ambition to occupy the entire East Sea through groundless claim about "Nine-dash line" which has violated territorial waters of neighboring countries.

Mrs. Aquino also talked about the Philippines’ lawsuit against China for its claim over the “Nine-dash” line and occupying Scarbourough Shoals (known as Huangyan in China) which has prevented the Philippines from exercising rights in its EEZ.

CARI Institute for International Security and Strategic Affairs Director Julio A.Hang highlighted the geopolitical importance of the East Sea which possesses regional petroleum resources and lies on one of international maritime arteries especially in oil transportation.

He cited China's stationing of its drilling platform in Vietnam’s EEZ as a "serious" action, adding that China’s ambition to occupy almost the entire East Sea has trigged tensions with neighboring countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines.

Attendees at the seminar also watched a documentary film on East Sea tensions which exposes China’s aggression and provocation when it put the 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s EEZ.

CARI is an Argentine prestigious academic body was established in 1978 with the aim of analyzing the political, economic, cultural and social aspects of international relations so as to enhance mutual understanding among countries.

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