The Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa hosted a seminar on the East Sea situation in the capital city of Pretoria on June 12 criticizing the illegal placement by China of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s waters.

The event drew the participation of over 70 delegates, including representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense of South Africa, ambassadors and embassy representatives of ASEAN countries, New Zealand, the US, Japan, Cuba, Bulgaria, Algeria, Botswana and Zimbabwe along with many scholars, journalists and local entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the seminar, Vietnamese ambassador Le Huy Hoang updated the latest developments on the East Sea tensions, rebuking aggressive actions by China since it stationed its floating oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

Especially China has deployed a large number of military ships and escort aircraft around the position of the drilling platform. Many Chinese ships even encircled and blatantly rammed Vietnamese fishing vessels, seriously violating international law, the UN Convention on Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in which China is a signatory.

Ambassador Le Huy Hoang stressed that goodwill and policy of Vietnam is to persist with peaceful measures in accordance with international law to protect its legitimate rights and interests.

Hoang also urged politicians, scholars and diplomatic corps in South Africa to support Vietnam’s legitimate demands, raise voice against China’s wrongdoing to make it withdraw its oil rig and escort ships from Vietnam’s waters and stop activities affecting security, maritime safety as well as peace and stability in the region.

Many representatives from diplomatic corps have voiced support for justice and Vietnam’s restraint and peaceful measures.

Mr. Hiroaki Fujiwara from the Japanese Embassy in South Africa reiterated the Japanese Government's view mentioned in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s speech at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore which emphasized Japanese support for ASEAN countries, highlighted international law and asked concerned parties to refrain from using force.

The Japanese diplomat said his nation hopes that the East Asia Summit next year will expand the agenda to discuss the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Philippine Embassy Charge d'Affaires, Mr Chad Jacinto said the seminar helped the political circles and local diplomatic corps gain updated information about the tense situation in the East Sea.

He said the Philippines opposed China’s claim over “nine dash” line and shared his nation’s recent efforts in lodging a lawsuit against China to the International Court.

Many scholars hotly debated measures to deal with disputes with China in the future, saying that Vietnam can take advantage of further mechanisms and related forums such as the UN, Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 to enlist greater support from the international community. The participants also discussed the possibility of applying a number of successful stories in handling disputes in the region over the past time.

After the seminar, two former South African ambassadors Thomas Wheeler and Victor Zazeraj expressed concern about tensions in the East Sea, emphasizing that China's actions are seriously threatening regional peace and stability.

Journalist Kirtan Bhana from the magazine "Diplomatic Society" in South Africa noted that the seminar hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy is useful, giving the participants a good chance to better understand the current tense situation in the East Sea.

He welcomed and supported Vietnam’s efforts in seeking a peaceful solution in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).