Hanoi (VNA) – There has been widespread international condemnationof China’s illegal activities in the Tu Chinh reef, international known asVanguard Bank, in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the East Sea(internationally known as South China Sea).

In his writing posted on Eurasia Review, Indonesian senior journalist VeeramallaAnjaiah voiced objection to China’srecent activities in the Vietnamese waters, saying they are clear violations ofthe United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982) whichChina is among the signatories.

The author also spoke highly of Vietnam’s outspoken call for the immediatewithdrawal of the Chinese vessels from the Vanguard Bank area.

He noted that many countries like Australia, Canada, the EU, France, Germanyand the US have lashed out at China for its provocative and unilateral actionsin the East Sea, and called for a rules-based order.

The well-respected International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) hasalso slammed China for violating Vietnam’s legitimate rights in the Vanguardarea, he highlighted, quoting IADL’s statement as saying “IADL requests thatChina promptly stop violating the sovereignty, sovereign rights andjurisdiction of Vietnam, stop carrying out activities that further complicatethe situation and increase tension between related parties and begin toconcentrate on building mutual trust to maintain the security, peace andstability in the South China Sea in particular and in the region in general”.

According to the journalist, the international community and the ASEAN bloc shouldcondemn China’s unilateral provocative actions that violate the internationallaw regarding the EEZs and continental shelves of Southeast Asian countries.

There should be solidarity among ASEAN nations on this troubling issue, he wrote,stressing they should accelerate full implementation of the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negotiations of the Code of Conductof Parties in the East Sea (COC) which is legally binding, effective and basedon the UNCLOS 1982 and other international rules to reduce tensions and avoidconflict.

The Times of India on September 4 also published an article titled “Big BrotherBullying: China’s actions in the South China Sea are bound to lead tocounter-mobilisation”, which described China’s activities in the East Sea as“unilateral provocative manoeuvres that threaten regional peace and security”.

However, countries in Southeast Asia and those with stakes in the region havefirm actions.

The article noted that the fourth edition of the Indian Ocean Conference was organised from September 3-4 in Maldives with thefocus on navigational security entailing freedom of navigation, theimplementation of the UNCLOS 1982 and developing effective regionalinstitutional mechanisms for actualising international rules.

Then recently, during the official visit to Vietnam by Malaysian Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad, Vietnam and Malaysia laid stress on the importance ofmaintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, expressed concerns about recentdevelopments in the region, and highlighted the significance of self-restraint,non-militarisation, and observance of international legal obligations.

The article urged China to “abandonits assertiveness in the South China Sea, engage in meaningful dialogue withall stakeholders without preconditions, uphold international rules, and jointlyensure security of regional maritime waters.”

Gerhard Will, an expert from the Stiftung Wissenchaft und Politik (theGerman Institute for International and Security Affairs) took note that Chinahad made more actions that violate international laws in the East Sea in recenttime.

It is noteworthy that the EU issued a statement on the East Sea on August 28and three countries - Germany, the UK and France – released a joint statementon the following day, he said, pointing out that the moves showed the East Sea issueis related to the interests of not only the region but also the globalcommunity.

Besides, it also shows that international community wants the issue to besettled based on international law.-VNA