The international community is united towards the East Sea

(Baonghean) - On May 12, the Wall Street Journal reported that US Defense Secretary Ash Carter asked the Pentagon to consider sending warships and aircraft to the area near the reefs that China is illegally reclaiming in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago. On the same day, a joint exercise between US aircraft carriers and the Malaysian, Japanese and Philippine navies took place in the East Sea. The above information once again heated up the topic of disputes in the East Sea. Nghe An Newspaper reporters had a conversation with Major General Le Van Cuong - former Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Public Security on this issue.

Reporter (PV):Dear Major General, readers of Nghe An Newspaper are very interested in the fact that the international community, especially large countries, are gradually showing more and more strong opposition to China's illegal actions in the East Sea. Could you please tell us more about those illegal actions?

Major General Le Van Cuong: Currently, the international community is strongly protesting China's reclamation of 7 submerged islands in the East Sea, which are Chau Vien, En Dat, Ga-ven, Tu Nghia, Gac Ma, Chu Thap, and Vanh Khan. Of these, China occupied the first 6 islands from Vietnam on March 14, 1988, and the last island from the Philippines in February 1995. According to many Western sources, especially the global positioning systems of the UK and the US, up to now, the 2 islands that China has most actively reclaimed are Gac Ma - the area has increased 200 times and Chu Thap - the area has increased 10 times compared to the original state. In particular, Chu Thap island has surpassed Ba Binh island to become the largest rock island in the Truong Sa archipelago.

According to the general assessment of the international community, this is an unprecedented island reclamation project in world history, both in scale and speed. China's intention through this action is probably also an unprecedented strategic trick: to realize China's unreasonable sovereignty in the East Sea without having to launch a war. That means by building a military base, China will "comfortably" dominate the region's security - politics - trade - maritime, from there reaching out to the world.

PV:But, Major General, the countries in the region that are directly involved in disputes with China in the East Sea and the international community in general certainly will not let China easily achieve its intentions?

Chinese ships are dredging mud to reclaim land at the Vành Khăn Islands. Photo: Reuter

Major General Le Van Cuong:Exactly. The evidence is that in recent times, the Philippines, Vietnam and a number of other countries in the region have taken actions that clearly show their resolute and uncompromising attitude towards China in the East Sea. For example, the Philippines submitted to the United Nations International Court of Justice a 4,000-page dossier against China for illegally occupying the Scarborough Shoal, which belongs to the Philippines. Vietnam has also repeatedly affirmed to China and the world that Vietnam has sufficient legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over the East Sea. Outside the region, in 2014, both the US House of Representatives and the US Congress passed resolutions opposing China's actions in the East Sea.

Most recently, the US Secretary of Defense proposed sending warships and aircraft with an operating range of 22 km to the area around the reefs that China is renovating. Admiral Harry Harris - Commander of the US Pacific Fleet also said that it is necessary to transfer 60% of the US fleet from Europe - Atlantic to Asia - Pacific to respond to China's actions. This information prompted Hua Yanying - spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry to say on May 14 that if the US really sent warships and fighter planes to the East Sea, it would be completely disadvantageous for China.

Besides the US, we cannot fail to mention Japan - a regional and world power, which is directly involved in the maritime dispute with China. During the visit to the US by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on April 27, the two countries signed an agreement to adjust the US-Japan military cooperation program, which was signed in 1997. This new adjustment has many changes and the goal of this cooperation program is emphasized to ensure peace and security in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. On May 15, Japan submitted to the National Assembly two new security laws, allowing the expansion of the Japanese military's scope of operations beyond its borders and the possibility that the Japanese Navy will participate in patrols in the East China Sea.

Also on this day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Beijing and he does not avoid the issue of the dispute in the East Sea. Despite the purpose of the trip being to establish economic cooperation with China and attract investment in Indian infrastructure, Mr. Modi still clearly separates the two issues.

In short, I think that never before has the international community reacted so strongly and resolutely to China regarding the maritime dispute.

PV:In the context of the international community being so "boiled", is this a good opportunity for Vietnam to gain certain advantages in the chess game in the East Sea?

Major General Le Van Cuong:Indeed, the international community’s active opposition to China’s unreasonable actions in the East Sea is a welcome sign for the struggle that Vietnam has been persistently pursuing for many years. We are not alone in the fight for justice and to protect national sovereignty, but have the support and backing of the international community. Taking this opportunity, Vietnam can express a more determined attitude, especially in the face of China’s continued reclamation of submerged rocks in the East Sea. Especially in the near future, countries in the region are moving towards building the ASEAN Community, moving beyond a mere economic cooperation bloc towards a community that joins hands to protect regional peace and security.

PV:Thank you, Major General, for this conversation!

Thuc Anh(Perform)