Chinese and Vietnamese patrol ships are squaring off in the South China Sea—a situation which could develop into a military clash if one false step is taken. It is, therefore, important for both nations to exercise restraint.
Over the last several days, many Chinese and Vietnamese ships rammed into each other near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, which are claimed by several nations, including the two. Injuries have been reported on the Vietnamese side.
The series of rammings was triggered by a Chinese move to begin drilling for oil in a sea zone where there are no agreed boundaries, without consent from its rivals. A furious Vietnam sent the Sea Guard and other ships, which was countered by China’s sending government ships to the area in an escalated stand-off.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga called China’s oil drilling activities, “a unilateral and provocative maritime advancement,” while a U.S. State Department spokesperson said China’s action would heighten tensions.
It is a matter of course for the international community to criticize China, which it blames for this situation.
China is insisting sovereignty inside the “nine-dash line,” which it drew to encompass almost the entire South China Sea. But the line has neither any grounds under stipulations of international law nor any approval from nations concerned.
Read more: http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001270855