VietNamNet Bridge – The White House said on May 22 the US would support Vietnam’s use of legal action against China to settle a territorial dispute following China’s illegal placement of its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in the East Sea.

White House spokesperson Patrick Ventrell was speaking in response to reporters’ questions commenting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s speeches at the World Economic Forum on East Asia in the Philippines and his remarks to Reuters and Associated Press.

Ventrell said the US has a national interest in maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and freedom of navigation and over flight in the East Sea.

"The United States supports the use of diplomatic and other peaceful means to manage and resolve disagreements, including the use of arbitration or other international legal mechanisms," he said.

In his speeches and remarks to AP and Reuters, PM Dung affirmed Vietnam will resolutely defend its sovereignty and legitimate interests as territorial sovereignty, including over its maritime zones and islands is sacred.

He said Vietnam consistently uses peaceful solutions and seeks every opportunity and dialogue channel to settle the situation in a peaceful manner.

“We are thirsty for peace and friendship, but it must be based on ensuring independence, self-reliance, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will never barter these sacred things for an unrealisable and dependent peace and friendship,” Dung stressed.

VOV/VNN