Gac Ma and China's plot

(Baonghean) - On March 14, 1988, China used its naval forces to occupy 6 rocky islands in Truong Sa. Looking back at the 27-year historical events in the Vietnam-China relationship related to the issue of sovereignty over seas and islands, Nghe An Newspaper reporters had an interview with Major General Le Van Cuong - Former Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Public Security to have a look at the past, present and future in the East Sea.

PV:Dear Major General, the East Sea has been and continues to be the focus of public opinion domestically and internationally. Marking the 27th anniversary of China’s invasion of Vietnam’s Truong Sa islands, could you please give your opinion on this issue?

Major General Le Van Cuong:Since 1988, China has had a presence on 6 submerged islands of Vietnam in Truong Sa and 1 island of the Philippines. Regarding this issue, after 27 years, I think there are some things we need to clearly understand:

First, regarding the choice of location, among the 6 Vietnamese islands that the Chinese Navy occupied in 1988, the two most notable are Gac Ma and Chu Thap islands. Why were these two islands occupied? It is important to know that at that time, these were not the 2 easiest islands to occupy, but they were 2 key points with especially important strategic positions - like 2 "border posts" in the East Sea. If these 2 islands were occupied, there would be the possibility of forming a military base to control the entrance to the East Sea. This proves that since 1988, China's intentions were not simple but had a long-term military vision. That intention, nearly 30 years later, is clear.

NASA aerial photo of Sinh Ton cluster, including Gac Ma island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (circled in red).

Second, in terms of timing, 1988 can be said to be a year when Vietnam was facing extreme difficulties both domestically and internationally. It was the lowest point of the socio-economic crisis that began in 1987. Outside the country, we were besieged and embargoed and isolated internationally. Vietnam’s biggest supporter at that time was the Soviet Union, which was also in crisis. In that context, Vietnam was completely unable to resist China’s occupation of the islands in Truong Sa.

Looking back 27 years, the lessons we need to learn are: first, we must not be vague about China's intentions and ambitions in the East Sea - a long-term plot with a vision that may extend beyond the East Sea, towards the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Second, we must connect Vietnam with the international community: combining national strength with the strength of the times. The present time is much different from the context of 1988, we are no longer alone in the East Sea or in any other issue. Vietnam has integrated and is a member of many bilateral and multilateral international organizations. We must know how to rely on international regulations and institutions to improve the ability to protect national sovereignty, ensure national interests and rights, and harmonize regional and international interests.

PV:In the latest page of the 27-year dispute in the East Sea, China has reclaimed the rocky islands, changing the status quo of the East Sea. Could you please elaborate on this event?

Major General Le Van Cuong:In June 2014, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs first informed the world that China was rapidly reclaiming submerged islands in the Spratlys, through satellite images provided by international telecommunications corporations. In February 2015, the Wall Street Journal continued to publish information about China building artificial islands on the foundation of submerged islands it had captured from Vietnam and the Philippines. These 7 islands have undergone surprisingly large changes, specifically when compared to the current status in February 2014, the area of ​​Gac Ma Island has increased by 200 times, and Chu Thap Island has increased by 10 times. A military airport has begun to take shape. This rapid change has surprised the world.

This is a wake-up call for the international community in general, ASEAN countries and Vietnam in particular. Many opinions say that the reclamation of submerged islands, including Gac Ma and Chu Thap, is more dangerous than China moving the HD-981 drilling rig into Vietnam's exclusive economic zone in the summer of 2014. I completely agree. Compared to the reclamation of submerged islands, the above event is meaningless in terms of long-term consequences.

PV:But in response to the international community’s reaction, China declared that its reclamation of the islands in Truong Sa was completely in accordance with international law, because they have sovereignty over these islands. What is the Major General’s comment on these statements?

Major General Le Van Cuong:These are statements that the Chinese media and diplomatic officials often repeat. However, according to international law, especially the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, territories seized by military means do not create a legal basis for the occupying country. Vietnam has been present in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos for more than 300 years. On January 19, 1974, 41 years ago, China invaded Hoang Sa. On March 14, 1988, China continued to use force to occupy 6 submerged islands of Vietnam in Truong Sa. Those events cannot be considered a legal basis for China to legitimize its sovereignty over these islands.

China has been constantly eyeing the reefs of Truong Sa, from Collins to Johnson and now Cross Reef. Source: SCMP

A few days ago, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared that “We are reclaiming Gac Ma, Chu Thap and other islands like paving bricks in our own yard”. That is a completely wrong statement, turning our back on international law. And of course, no country or international organization will accept China’s baseless argument. More than that, China’s declarations have caused the international and regional communities to completely lose faith in the commitments that China has agreed to, most recently the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed by ASEAN countries and China in 2002.

PV:The international community has lost confidence in China, so the actions of this country always raise questions for us about their intentions and purposes. The renovation of the rocky islands this time is no exception. According to the Major General, what is their deep purpose?

Major General Le Van Cuong:In my opinion, China's reclamation of islands in Truong Sa has two purposes:

First, in terms of national defense and security, let's revisit the incident of the missing MH370 plane in March 2013. It was during the search for the crashed plane with naval forces from other countries that the Chinese Navy revealed a weakness: China's logistics system does not allow them to reach far out to sea. The renovation of Chu Thap and Gac Ma is to form two military bases. Currently, satellite images and many foreign sources show that in the west of Gac Ma, an airport with a runway of about 2,800m is being formed, and in Chu Thap there is also an airport with a runway of 3,500m, allowing combat aircraft, J8 and J10 fighters to take off and land. In particular, at Chu Thap, the large airport will serve long-range fighter bombers H6, H6K with an operating range of up to 1,800 km, carrying 9 ballistic missiles with a range of up to 2,000 km. The east side of both islands has a port that allows 50,000-ton ships to dock. Thus, China's blockade, centered on these two military bases, can completely cover and control 10 ASEAN countries. Even the largest US military base in northern Australia, 3,200 km from Gac Ma Island, will be within the range of Chinese artillery. Thus, building military bases at the two key points blocking the gateway to the East Sea, Gac Ma and Chu Thap, will both serve the anti-access defense strategy and allow long-range attacks, reaching out to the open sea.

Second, politically, this is a stepping stone to realize unreasonable claims such as the nine-dash line and the air defense identification zone. It can be predicted that once the military base is completed - likely in 2016 - China will unilaterally set out rules and demands for foreign warships, fishing boats, and commercial ships passing through this area. That means imposing their sovereignty over the waters and islands within the nine-dash line. That is an unreasonable and very dangerous intention, and it is even more dangerous when China is gradually realizing it with military power.

PV:Does that mean China will monopolize the East Sea, General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:To say monopolize is a bit too negative, I would personally use the word "control". Remember that the East Sea has an international shipping route running through it, through which 1/3 of the planet's goods and services circulate. In terms of energy alone, 42% of the world's commercial oil passes through the East Sea. The interests of the US, Europe, India, South Asia, Africa, Latin America, etc. are concentrated here, so monopolizing the East Sea is very difficult, if not impossible. The worst thing is that China will set rules and use force to apply them, in order to control, dominate, and restrain the bustle of this common shipping route, increasing the dependence on China of countries with interests here.

PV:How will that control impact regional security, General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:Extremely dangerous, because then everything is done and the whole world will face difficulties with the demands that China has made, let alone the 10 ASEAN countries. Surely the rule of free movement with harmless travel conditions will no longer exist. The East Sea will be even hotter because of China's actions, regional and world security will be threatened.

PV:In the face of that situation, how did the international community react, Major General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:China's sudden move of the HD-981 drilling rig into Vietnam's exclusive economic zone has caused the international community to seethe, and certainly no one will sit idly by as China builds a military base and changes the status quo in the East Sea. Time and time again, generation after generation of Chinese leaders have broken their commitments to countries in the region, including Vietnam, which has worsened China's image in the eyes of the international community. Surveys in many countries and continents show that the majority of people believe that China is the source of troubles and instability that threaten regional peace and security. Inciting and fueling anti-China movements in the international arena is not a wise move. The dream of hegemony is a double-edged sword that threatens the region and the world, but sooner or later will turn around and threaten China itself. Because that is the path of self-isolation, also the path of no escape, even if it is the largest country in the world. I believe that Gac Ma is a milestone marking China's acceleration on the path they chose nearly 30 years ago. At the same time, it is also a signal to open a new, more positive and stronger development step in the fight against the unreasonable hegemonic plot that Vietnam has been, is and will be standing shoulder to shoulder with international friends to pursue to the end.

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

Thuc Anh(Perform)