China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei all approved the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS). This Convention prohibits the use of and threat of using force in the settlement of disputes at sea.

Vietnam has demanded China to immediately stop violations, withdraw all vessels from Vietnam’s EEZ and not have actions to increase tensions, complicate the situation, and threaten peace, stability and security in the East Sea and the region.

Many international experts have criticised China's illegal activities in the East Sea and demanded China to end its actions that have increased tensions in the region.

Military officers from the navies, air forces, coastguards, border guards and defence ministries of Southeast Asian countries completed an international training course in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Protection May 13.

 VietNamNet Bridge – China cannot change the legal rights of Vietnam over the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), affirmed experts at a two-day conference themed “East Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security

 VietNamNet Bridge – The international community has continued to raise its voice, to protest against China's illegal deployment of an oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The international community has continually expressed concern over China’s illegal placement of Haiyang Shiyou 981 in Vietnam’s waters.