The US Senate has adopted a resolution denouncing China’s unilateral actions in the East Sea and demanding a return of the status quo before May 1, 2014.

On May 1, 2014 China towed its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 to the waters deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. It has since dispatched vessels, including military ships, and aircraft, to protect the platform. Its ships have intimidated, fired water cannons at and rammed Vietnamese law enforcement vessels, injuring people on board and damaging their property.  

China even declared three miles of safety zones around the oil platform, affecting navigation safety in the region and violating the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

A Chinese frigate travelling around the platform

In its resolution adopted on July 10, the Senate reaffirms the US government’s strong support for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes.

It condemns coercive and threatening actions or the use of force to impede freedom of operations in international airspace by military or civilian aircraft, to alter the status quo or to destabilise the Asia-Pacific region.

Although the US, an Asia-Pacific power, is not a claimant party in the East Sea, it has a clear interest in encouraging and supporting regional countries to work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve the disputes and is firmly opposed to coercion, intimidation, threats, or the use of force.

According to the resolution, the increasing frequency and assertiveness of patrols and competing regulations over disputed territory and maritime areas and airspace in the East Sea are raising tensions and increasing the risk of confrontation.

It says China’s territorial claims and actions are unilateral attempts to change the status quo, violating the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

A China Coast Guard ship firing water cannons at a Vietnamese boat near the rig

The US Senate supports efforts by ASEAN and China to develop an effective Code of Conduct, a more legally binding document than DOC to resolve territorial disputes in the East Sea.

It encourages territorial claimants not to undertake new unilateral attempts to alter the status quo since the signing of the 2002 DOC, including no asserting administrative measures or control in disputed areas in the East Sea.

The US Senate urges China to withdraw its oil rig and escort vessels from the current position, marking a return to the status quo before May 1, 2014.

The resolution also criticizes China for unilaterally establishing an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea, a move that violates the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Chicago Convention and causing tensions in relations with regional countries such as Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The resolution was sponsored by senators Patrick Leahy, John McCain, Robert Menendez, Benjamin Cardin, James Risch, Marco Rubio, Dianne Feinstein, and John Cronyn.

US seminar on East Sea gives more recommendations

The US Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted the fourth annual seminar on the East Sea in Washington DC on July 10, bringing together leading world scholars from the US, China, India, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The scholars performed an in-depth analysis of the recent developments in the East Sea following the illegal placement by China of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf and the Philippines’ lawsuit against China in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

At the seminar, participants gave recommendations, particularly with the US on measures to deal with the increasingly aggressive actions by China aiming to ease tension and maintain stability in the region.

During the two-day seminar, two Vietnamese researchers - Tran Truong Thuy from the East Sea Research Foundation (ESRF) and Vu Hai Dang from the Vietnam Lawyers' Association -  in their capacity as major  speakers  said that China’s illegal stationing of its giant drilling platform in Vietnam’s territorial waters is a turning point signifying a new level of China's assertiveness.

The two scholars asked the US and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take the lead in formulating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and support the use of peaceful means to resolve disputes including judgment through an international arbitration mechanism.

Congressman Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said that US diplomatic strategy with China in the East China Sea has proven ineffective so far. The more the confrontation in the East China Sea is prolonged, the more likely armed conflict will occur.

He emphasizes that his nation not only strengthens its alliances and existing friendly relations, but also needs to build new relationships in Asia, both in terms of trade and security. He also urged the US Government to raise a stronger and direct voice about diplomacy with China.

Scholar Patrick Cronin, CSIS Asia-Pacific Security Program Director suggested Washington should continue to maintain its presence in the region and closely coordinate with concerned parties to change China's coercive intentions.

Christopher Johnson, CSIS Senior Adviser and Freeman Chair in China studies said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has changed view on China’s foreign policy, making it more difficult to predict than that of President Hu Jintao.

According to Christopher Johnson, China will continue to "ignore" concern of its neighbors in the East Sea and could use economic power as leverage in relations with these countries. In addition, Beijing will also seek to prevent ASEAN from reaching a consensus through economic dependence.

On July 11, the seminar will continue discussing the prospects of US policy towards the East Sea and cooperation and confidence building to help resolve this hot and thorny problem.

Slovenia and Croatia want to enhance all-round cooperation with Vietnam

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son conducted political consultations with Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and Croatia as part of his visit from July 7-9.

At the working session, senior representatives from the three nations discussed measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation and a number of international issues of mutual concern.

Both Slovenia and Croatia highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in the socio-economic development process as well as the country's important role in the South East Asia region. The two countries expressed a strong desire to bolster multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam after both nations finalize joining the European Union (EU).

Vietnam, Slovenia and Croatia also agreed to further exchange high-level delegations and support each other at multilateral forums. Slovenia expressed its wish to promote cooperation in the Mekong-Danube sub-region and exchange experts on water resource management.

Representatives from the three nations highlighted cooperative prospects in such fields as trade, investment, agriculture, shipbuilding, transport-ports, health, national defence, education and tourism.

They also agreed to facilitate business opportunities and signing of cooperative agreements in the coming time. Slovenia and Croatia emphasised their hopes of becoming the gateway for Vietnamese goods to penetrate the EU market, especially the Balkan region.