US opposes use of force in East Sea: spokesperson
(VNA) A spokesperson of the US State Department reaffirmed that US opposes the use of force or threat of force in the East Sea by any party and supports the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.
Regarding the acts of Chinese marine surveillance vessels which on May 26 cut exploration cables of the Binh Minh 02 ship of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) when the ship was conducting seismic surveys on the continental shelf of Vietnam, the US spokesperson said:
"The United States supports a collaborative diplomatic process by all claimants to resolve the various territorial disputes without coercion, and we call on all claimants to conform all of their claims – both land and maritime – to international law. We oppose the use or threat of force by any claimant."
The US State Department spokesperson reaffirmed that the US supports the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and encourages the parties to reach a full code of conduct.
The spokesperson added that the US shares a number of national interests with the international community in the East Sea, including regional stability, freedom of navigation, respect for international law, and unimpeded commerce under lawful conditions and that it does not take sides in regional territorial disputes./.
