Vietnamese fishing boats (Illustrative image - Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s senior journalist Veeramalla Anjaiah described the Chinese coast guard vessel’s recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat on Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago as “unacceptable”.

Additionally, China’s naming of islands, reefs and geographical features in the East Sea is also a serious violation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said.

Anjaiah added that China seriously violated international law when claiming sovereignty over more than 80 percent of the East Sea based on the so-called “nine-dash line” which has no legal value.

He stressed that the international community needs to condemn China’s “illegal actions” and “bully behaviours” in the East Sea.

According to him, ASEAN needs to have a common stance on the issue and step up COC talks./.VNA

US condemns China's recent actions in East Sea

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on April 23 criticised recent actions of China in the East Sea, including its announcement of establishing “Xisha district” (Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago) and “Nansha district” (Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago).

Experts: Chinese acts in East Sea run counter to international law

Following China’s announcement of establishing the so-called “Xisha district” (Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago) and “Nansha district” (Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago), international experts have condemned the move, saying it breaks international law.