>> Vietnam’s defence policy is peace, self-defence: minister
>> Vietnamese Minister of Defence meets Chinese counterpart
>> Vietnam could lodge appeal against China
Both Vietnam and the Philippines criticised China’s aggressive behaviour in the East Sea during the Shangrila Dialogue, in Singapore on June 5.
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| Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phung Quang Thanh (L) and his Signaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen at the Shangrila Dialogue |
Strong speech, hopes of peace
Vietnamese Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh delivered a speech, in which he referred to the attack, by Chinese vessels on the Vietnamese survey ship Binh Minh 02 on May 26. He called it a major obstacle to peaceful relations between the two countries. He said that the incident could have wide reaching effects on stability in the region.
He said that China should abide by its bilateral agreements, and that the matter can be settled peacefully.
National security and regional security are closely linked. Vietnam is willing to be a good neighbour and a trustworthy member of the international community. The country would like to build confidence and cooperative relationships with neighbouring countries, with the goal of peace, stability and development, Thanh highlighted.
Voltaire Gasmin, the Defense Secretary of the Philippines, took his time to outline the pattern of harassment by China. He mentioned the placement of construction material on an unoccupied reef in Philippine waters, as well as the ramming of fishing boats. "This is unnecessary, and worries other states like the Philippines.”
Gasmin went on to accuse Beijing of threatening the stability of Asia because of incursions by military ships in other countries’ territorial waters. He sited the Spratly Island dispute as a prime example.
The President of the Philippines Begnino Aquino said that his country is planning on making an official protest with the United Nations over China’s incursions on disputed islands in the East Sea.
China speaks softly
China’s response at the the Shangrila Dialogue was delivered by the Chinese Minister of Defence, Liang Guanglie, who said that his country has no intentions of using its military in an aggressive manner against its neighbours. He pledged a peaceful resolution to all regional disputes.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who spoke at the summit on June 4, warned that further clashes could result if the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations fail to reach a general agreement about their conduct.
He added that budget cuts or American “war weariness” would not be an obstacle to expanded U.S. engagement in the region.
