Australian expert disagrees with China’s view on East Sea issue

Immediately after a number of Australian newspapers published articles written by two Chinese researchers and diplomats saying that Vietnam does not have legal sovereignty claims over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, Professor Carlyle A. Thayer took issue with views advanced.

In a commentary, providing feedback to the editorial offices he rejected out of hand the views set forth in the articles, countering the false views as lacking a factual basis and nothing more than unsubstantiated speculation and opinion.

Concerning the article by Zhao Qinghai, Director of China Institute of International Studies’ Research Centre for Cooperation and Maritime Security, published in "the Australian Financial Review" on June 11, Thayer said that this commentary is not collaborated by academic research, but simply reiterates the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s policy.

He voiced his strong opposition to Qinghai’s argument that international law sides with China, as the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 is located in China’s adjacent regions.

The deployment of the drilling rig escorted by warships in the East Sea is a serious violation of international law and China should respond positively to Vietnam’s continued request, he emphasized.

Thayer also said that China is misinterpreting Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s 1958 diplomatic note and Qinghai is propagating false information about the fact.

Concerning the article by Chinese Ambassador in Australia Ma Zhaoxu published on "The Australian" paper on June 13, Thayer said this is a controversial article as Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu has been selected for propagation of the current crisis surrounding the drilling rig in the East Sea. Thayer insisted that the stationing of the Chinese drilling rig violates international law.

Thayer stressed Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu’s commitment on cooperation with Vietnam to resolve the dispute is worth welcoming but the fact shows that after more than one month since China illegal placed its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, Vietnam has received no positive response from Beijing in spite of its every effort.