US Senator Jim Webb: “China violates international law”
Senator Jim Webb said China's recent actions to unilaterally assert control over the East Sea violate international law.
Senator Jim Webb, Chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.Photo: VNA
Pacific News Center quoted Senator Jim Webb, Chairman of the East Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, speaking at the US Senate session on July 25: “With the increase in the power of certain elements in the military, China is becoming more and more aggressive. The Central Military Commission of China decided to establish the so-called 'Sansha City'. The establishment of a government in the area that Vietnam
Senator Webb also stressed that China has refused to address the issue in multilateral forums. “They insist that this be resolved bilaterally, between the two countries. Why is that? Because they have more leverage than any other country in the region. It is clear that this is a violation of international law. This is contrary to China’s own statement that it is willing to work with ASEAN to develop a Code of Conduct (COC). This is a very difficult issue. I will urge the State Department to clarify this situation with China immediately,” he said.
Senator Webb was the first to support the US Senate resolution condemning China in June 2011. The US Senate has opposed the use of force in the East Sea and called for a peaceful, multilateral solution to resolve disputes in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Webb has been vocal about maritime disputes and sovereignty issues in Asia and has expressed concern about sovereignty issues in the region for the past 16 years.
Senator Jim Webb has served in many capacities in East and Southeast Asia over the past four decades: from Marine Corps officer, journalist, business consultant, senior Department of Defense official to US Secretary of the Navy.
According to VNEXPRESS-M
