“China could be more an unfriendly giant than a friendly neighbour,” according to independent analyst David Koh, who has researched Viet Nam for 20 years.

Koh, an independent consultant and former senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), based his assessment on the fact that China brazenly moved its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in early May, and has yet to remove it.

The Chinese ship fires water cannon at Vietnamese vessel (Photo: VNA)

In addition, China has deployed about 100 ships of different kinds, including warships, and fighter jets to safeguard the illegal rig.

The moves have surprised regional experts, who have claimed them to be ultimately counter-productive to Chinese interests. Some have interpreted the illegal acts as an attempt to strengthen China’s weak claims on sovereignty in the East Sea. However, they say these acts have in fact gone against China’s ambition of consolidating and building trust in the region and world.

China seems ready to solve disputes in the East Sea in its own way. However, its move has posed questions about the bigger goals in Beijing’s external policies towards neighbours. The move shows that there is a wide gap between its words and its actions.

As a result, it has devastated neighbours’ confidence in China, badly damaging its image of positive and responsible nation as well as prospects for cooperation.

The recent Chinese act in the East Sea runs counter to its new efforts in expanding ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members.

Last October, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attended the ASEAN-China Summit in Brunei and the 10th anniversary of establishing the ASEAN-China strategic partnership.

Regarding a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC), Li said that China will work with ASEAN countries to advance the formulation process of the COC in an active and prudent manner under the principle of consensus. Pending a settlement, parties to the dispute should work actively for joint development, he said.

Li also put forward s seven-point proposal on cooperation with ASEAN. First, the two sides should discuss the signing of a treaty on good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation to provide legal and institutional safeguards for bilateral strategic cooperation to move further forward, Li said.

Furthermore, he called for “peace and friendship” in the East Sea, emphasising the need to be united to turn the sea into a maritime area of peace, friendship and cooperation.

Contrary to Premier Li’s statements, China has since illegally brought its rig into the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam, causing tensions in the region and eroding trust in Beijing.

ASEAN’s consideration of a Chinese initiative to build the so-called ‘21st century maritime silk road’ – a policy supported by Chinese President Xi Jinping - will also be obstructed as a result of the country’s aggressive behaviour.

More importantly, China’s acts in the East Sea this time will send a new warning to other countries in sovereignty disputes with it about the difficulties in dealing with China’s behaviour.

Although several ASEAN members have used different measures to solve tensions at sea with China, the country has only become more uncooperative and provocative.

The Philippines has asked the international court to define the legal status of the so-called nine-dash line vaguely claimed by China.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam has used every measure within the bilateral cooperative framework, including the establishment of a hotline between the two countries’ high-level leaders.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held phone conversations with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and State Councillor Yang Jiechi, during which he protested China’s acts and affirmed that Viet Nam would take all necessary and appropriate measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests in the East Sea.

The question is why Beijing rouses instability in the East Sea. According to expert Grigory Lokshin from Russia’s Institute of Far Eastern Studies, China is trying to push its baseless sovereignty claim over islands and waters in the East Sea in order to implement its military and strategic goal of ousting the US from the region.

However, this act is leading to the escalation of tensions and causing a risk of a military confrontation, which is unnecessary for any nation, state Lokshin.

(Source: VNA)