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| A Sept-2015 Satellite image of China's Artificial Island built on Fiery Cross Reef (File Photo) |
Nha Trang (VNA) – The eighth International Conference on the East Sea, themed “Cooperation for Regional Security and Development”, wrapped up in Nha Trang city, the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on November 15, stressing the need to promote ASEAN’s central role in managing disputes in the East Sea.
Through the course of seven sessions with 28 presentations and nearly 200 opinions, delegates joined heated discussions on regional and global context, recent happenings in the East Sea, legal, economic, political security and historic aspects in the East Sea dispute and prospects of dispute settlement and management in the region.
Commenting on the origin of the East Sea dispute, many participating scholars said it began decades ago, saying that the nine-dash line claimed by China is to initially define sovereignty over islands without resorting to any legal and scientific grounds.
About the recent developments in the East Sea, they shared view that China is likely to reach consensus with several Southeast Asian countries to soften disputes, but on field, it has still maintained, or even enhanced its presence and control in the area, including the Scarborough Shoal and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.
The construction and installation of equipment for military purpose and surveillance in Da Chu Thap (Fiery Cross Reef), Vanh Khan (Mischief Reef) and Subi reef have not been slowed down, proving that China does not change its long-term goal of gaining full control over the East Sea, which is also an important cause of regional tension.
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