French-Vietnam Friendship Association condemns China’s act
The French-Vietnam Friendship Association (FVFA) has expressed its strong protest against China’s illegal act of deploying an oil rig and military ships in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
In its letter sent to the Vietnamese Embassy in France, the FVFA voiced its deep concern about the issue, affirming that China seriously violates international law and put unacceptable pressure on its neighbouring countries, especially Vietnam.
These negatively impact on the cooperation agreements reached between China and ASEAN, especially the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), the association said.
The VFFA called on China to immediately remove its rig and surrounding ships out of Vietnam’s waters as well as respect its commitments on building a code of conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The association also stressed the need to respect international law and those regulated in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) adopted in the 1982 Montego Bay Conference, which both Vietnam and China attended, saying that the recent incidents in the East Sea cannot be solved by using force.
Meanwhile, the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group also sent a letter to the French Foreign Minister to call for action.
The group is worried that unilateral acts can bring negative effects to security and stability in the region, suggesting that concerned countries should boost dialogue to seek peaceful and cooperative measures on the basis of international law, especially the UNCLOS, to ensure security and free navigation and maintain peace and stability in the region.
In its press release, the group expressed its support for the Europe Union’s statement on the tension in the East Sea and concern over China’s actions.