Vietnam: Beijing’s South China Sea drills may hurt China-Asean maritime code talks
- China started military exercises along its coast this week, including near the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam
- Hanoi says the drills could complicate efforts to restart talks on a regional maritime code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea
China holds drills near disputed Paracels for a third time this year
Vietnam shared that priority and “looks forward to “concluding the COC in an effective, comprehensive way”, in line with international law, Hang said.
China, which has for years been locked in maritime disputes with other coastal states in the South China Sea, has in recent months boosted its presence and held exercises in disputed parts of the strategic waterway, at a time when other claimants are battling coronavirus outbreaks.
The United States has accused China of bullying its neighbours, while Beijing says Washington and its Western allies have been interfering and endangering security by sending naval vessels to the region.
In August, Vietnam said the presence of Chinese bombers on the Paracel Islands “jeopardises peace”.
Explainer | Why are tensions running high in the South China Sea dispute?
Hang said on Thursday that Vietnam demanded that China respect its sovereignty and does not repeat such drills in the area.
The COC has been a stated goal of Asean and China for nearly two decades, but regional security experts have questioned China’s sincerity towards concluding it and doubted whether a legally binding agreement can be forged.