China plans military exercises before the verdict on the East Sea case

China will conduct a military exercise around Vietnam's Paracel Islands, ahead of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) expected to issue a ruling on the "nine-dash line" lawsuit between the Philippines and China.

Dong Diao-class spy ship of the Chinese Navy. Photo: Nikkei Asian Review/VNA

On July 3, Reuters news agency quoted the announcement of the State Oceanic Administration of China (SOA) as saying the above information. In a short statement posted online, SOA stated that the exercise will take place from July 5-11, and provided the coordinates of the location of the exercise, covering the area from the east of Hainan Island down and including the Paracel Islands under Vietnam's sovereignty.

The PCA is expected to issue a ruling on July 12 in The Hague (Netherlands) on the dispute between China and the Philippines.

On March 3, answering a question about Vietnam's next solutions to China's continuous actions causing tension in the East Sea, spokesman Le Hai Binh emphasized: "As a country directly involved in disputes in the East Sea, Vietnam's consistent stance is to support the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Vietnam will resolutely and persistently protect its sovereignty as well as its legitimate rights and interests in the East Sea by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter. Up to now, Vietnam's consistent stance has contributed to maintaining peace in the region and has been welcomed by the international community."

According to News