US President Barack Obama on May 28 expressed concern about increased tensions in the East Sea and said the US supports ASEAN in formulating a code of conduct (COC) with China to settle maritime disputes in the sea.

Addressing US military cadets at West Point, Obama warned global crisis could threaten US allies if they are not resolved completely, and they could force US military to intervene.

“Regional aggression that goes unchecked – in southern Ukraine, the South China Sea [East Sea], or anywhere else in the world – will ultimately impact our allies, and could draw in our military. We can’t ignore what happens beyond our boundaries," Obama said.

“In the Asia Pacific, we’re supporting Southeast Asian nations as they negotiate a code of conduct with China on maritime disputes in the South China Sea, and we’re working to resolve these disputes through international law.”

Tension has mounted in the East Sea after China positioned its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf on May 1.

Chinese vessels, including military ships, that were deployed to escort the rig, have constantly rammed civil Vietnamese boats, injuring sailors and damaging their property.

VOV/VNN