Admiral Samuel Locklear III, Commander of the US Pacific Command, has called on Vietnam and China to exercise restraint and avoid complicating the situation in the East Sea.

Locklear made the call in an interview after the World Economic Forum (WEF) session on Asia Security Outlook in the Philippines on May 23, after China unilaterally placed its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, sparking public outrage.

“I have serious concerns, I believe that we should first encourage both parties to exercise restraint,” the Philippines’ Inquirer.net quoted Locklear as saying.

Admiral Samuel Locklear III, Commander of the US Pacific Command (Photo:AFP)

“[They should deal with] these types of issues through normal types of [mechanisms] that allow them to use international law or an international platform to determine these particular disputes,” he said.

He also revealed that the US is looking for expanding partnerships with Vietnam as well as other countries.

“The US is pursuing alliances and strategic partnerships and [we have a] growing number of partnerships and we look forward to exploring opportunities to expand our partnership with nations such as Vietnam, but Vietnam is among many,” he said.

The White House on May 22 also announced it would support Vietnam’s use of legal action against China to settle the territorial dispute in the East Sea.  

VOV/VNN