Since late 2019, there were more than 30 diplomatic notes, letters and statements from 13 countries inside and outside the East Sea region referring to positions and views on a number of legal issues in the East Sea.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), on March 10 had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Zhang Jun, during which the two sides shared views and stances on many issues at the UN.

Vietnam requests China to respect and not violate Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and not take actions to complicate the situation.

American expert on international relations Joseph Nye said that the power of a country, besides "hard power" including military force, population, geography, and strategic resources, also includes "soft power".

The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) on February 11 morning issued 1,601 codes for Vietnamese agricultural and food products serving their exports to the Chinese market.

The Ministry of National Defence received 300,000 doses of Vero-Cell COVID-19 vaccine presented by the Ministry of National Defence of China at a ceremony held at Noi Bai International Airport on February 8.

The Chinese side has yet to agree to restore a regular flight route with Vietnam due to concerns about Covid-19 pandemic developments.

China has stepped up the legal war by internalizing the law and increasing the presence of its maritime law enforcement forces and maritime militia to strengthen its claims in the East Sea and reject the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling 2016.

The year 2021 was a turning point year in competition in the East Sea, between the countries inside and outside the region and China.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs has informed that many cargo trucks from Vietnam are still jammed in the China side of the Northern border gates and vice versa due to strict control of vehicle flow for Covid-19 prevention purposes.

Vietnam imported goods worth US$99.4 billion from China between January and November, soaring 33.2% compared with the same period last year.

It has been more than a week since the congestion of trucks carrying agricultural products to China at the Vietnam-China border gates in Quang Ninh Province began. 

About 4,000 trucks are currently stuck and cannot go through the border gates in Lang Son. China has said it will not accept frozen exports for 14 days before and after Tet (Lunar New Year).

After tightening technical barriers, China now may suspend imports for at least six weeks during the Tet holiday. About 1 million tons of Vietnamese fruit may suffer from the decision.