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Vietnam and the Philippines on Wednesday demanded that China immediately stop actions that have caused an “extremely dangerous situation” in the disputed South China Sea.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said China’s actions have “seriously threatened peace, stability, maritime security and safety, and freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea.
Dung said he and President Benigno Aquino “shared the deep concerns over the current extremely dangerous situation caused by China’s many actions that violate international law ... seriously impinge on the waters of coastal countries.” “The two sides are determined to oppose China’s violations and called on the international community to continue strongly condemning China and demanding China to immediately end these violations and fully and strictly observe international laws,” Dung said.
Vietnam and the Philippines also called on Beijing to work with the Association of South-East Asian Nations “for the early achievement” of a formal code of conduct in the South China Sea.
Beijing has deployed a mobile, deep-sea oil drilling rig near the Paracel Islands claimed by Hanoi, triggering anti-Chinese protests across Vietnam that turned into riots and left two Chinese workers killed and more than 100 injured.
China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, has also been reclaiming land in the Johnson South Reef to allegedly build an airstrip in the area claimed by the Philippines.
Aquino said he and Dung agreed to boost cooperation of their coast guards to better protect marine resources and suppress illegal activities in the sea between the two countries.
“I believe that continued cooperation with Vietnam, as well as other members of the ASEAN, in defence and security will only contribute to promoting regional stability,” he said.
The two leaders also vowed to work on enhancing economic, business and tourism ties, encourage investments in both countries, and set a goal of doubling two-way trade to 3 billion dollars by 2016.
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