China’s U-shaped Line in the South China Sea: Possible Interpretations, Asserting Activities and Reactions from Outside, by Tran Truong Thuy

China (and Taiwan) has circulated the map of South China Sea with the U-shaped line (or nine-dotted line) in different internal documents and publications since 1948. However, it was not until 2009 that, for the first time, the People’s Republic of China included it in an official international document, namely in the Note Verbal sent to United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to protest Vietnam and Malaysia joint submissions on the outer limit of their continental shelves in the South China Sea.

Chinese strategic miscalculations in the South China Sea

First and foremost, China should take constructive steps to bring about an amicable conclusion to negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, and implement a face-saving policy renouncing once and for all its U-shaped line. Obviously, this will be a difficult decision for China to take. However, the international dividend and return for China’s peaceful rise would ripple far beyond the neighborhood and confines of the South China Sea.

China – a hungry dragon in the East Sea

After implementing the closed-door policy for a long period of time, China has begun to compete with other countries and raise big claims in the East Sea. 

Vietnam protests Chinese oil company’s move

Vietnam strongly protests and requests that China cease the invitation of international bids for 09 oil and gas lots within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on June 26. Spokesman Nghi made the statement after the China National Offshore Oil Corporation invited international bidders for the lots on June 23.

ARF 2012 stresses concern on East Sea disputes

Maritime security and nuclear power safety top the agenda of the security policy conference under the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) that was held in Cambodia on May 25.

ASEAN completes draft COC on East Sea

Senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on May 24 concluded drafting the key elements for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea , a Cambodian senior official said. 

A legal analysis in support of Viet Nam’s position regarding the Paracel & Spratly Islands

To understand the complex nature of disputes over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, a comprehensive integration of the legal and the political perspectives is required. The legal perspective allows us to determine whether arguments of the claimants are valid and whether they are actually supported by historical facts. This essay reviews and analyses the arguments of the claimants from the perspective of international law and argues for Viet Nam’s position.

Vietnam, China boost diplomatic exchanges

Vietnam and China have agreed to promote high-level diplomatic exchanges with the aim of strengthening the ties of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. FM Minh held talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Feb. 12.

PetroVietnam says oil activities normal in East Sea

The state-owned Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) said despite "complications" last year, it was business as usual for it in the East Sea.

Phung Dinh Thuc, the chief executive of PetroVietnam, which explores and drills oil in the sea, said at a press conference Monday that thanks to assistance from the ministries of public security, defense, and foreign affairs, its activities in the East Sea remained “quite smooth”

The company was operating within Vietnam’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, he said.

Vietnam manufactures its first warship

Vietnam already boasts a thriving merchant ship construction sector, and has also built some coastal paramilitary craft in recent years. Now, the country is emerging as a warship builder.

Hoang Sa, Truong Sa belong to Vietnam

Vietnam has sufficient historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, which the country occupied peacefully in the 17th century and has since exercised its jurisdiction over them.

ASEAN-China senior officials meet on DOC implementation

Senior officials of ASEAN member countries and China gathered in Beijing on Jan. 14 for their fourth meeting (SOM) on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

VN calls for strong regional coordination

A senior Vietnamese parliamentarian has called for an enhancement of coordination between the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) and other mechanisms in the region, in order to develop regional potential.
National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong made the appeal at the plenary session of the 20 th APPF meeting in Tokyo on Jan. 9, adding that APPF needs to adjust its structure to follow a closer and more practical trend of tightly coordinating with other regional mechanisms.

PM calls for peaceful settlement of marine-related issues

(VOV) - Vietnam and China should closely coordinate in seriously implementing bilateral agreements, especially those on the principles of settling marine-related issues, including disputes, based on international law, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said in Myanmar on December 19.

A new book on ‘Vietnam and the East Sea’ published

The new book entitled ‘Vietnam and the East Sea’ aims to help the domestic and international public better understand the real situation in the East Sea, around Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands, as well as Vietnam’s views on solving related disputes.

From the Giao Chi sea to the U-shape line

China has intentionally taken unfair advantage of the name South China Sea (the way Western people call the East Sea) to make misunderstandings that nearly the entire East Sea belongs to China’s sovereignty.

Why the East Sea became the South China Sea?

The follow-up article by researcher Nguyen Dinh Dau explains why the East Sea, from the name Giao Chi (Jiaozhi) Sea in the 14th century, was mistakenly noted by Western people as the South China Sea.

Vietnam seeks no outside help over China issues

The Vietnamese deputy minister of defense told Tuoi Tre the Vietnamese government does not want to internationalize sea issues between Vietnam and China and that Vietnam does not seek third-party help over such issues.