The Foreign Affairs Committee of Japan’s House of Representatives on June 11 issued a resolution calling upon China to show self restraint in the waters surrounding Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

The resolution states that China’s unilateral exploration of oil in the vicinity of Hoang Sa archipelago and announcement of a ship exclusion zone have prolonged disputes between Viet Nam and China and escalated tensions in the East Sea .

The document also says the intimidation, coercion and use of force to claim territory is unacceptable.

Affirming that not only Japan , but also the whole international community, cares about peace and stability in the East Sea , the committee says it is vital to settle disputes through peaceful measures and dialogue.

They also asked the Japanese Government to strengthen its ties with the US and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and call on all concerned parties to exercise utmost restraint from unilateral acts that may raise tensions and agree to comply with international law.

In early May, China illegally dispatched the rig as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft to Viet Nam’s waters and positioned it at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, 80 miles deep inside Viet Nam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

In May alone, 19 fisheries surveillance ships and five coast guard vessels of Viet Nam were seriously damaged after being rammed and fired with water cannons while performing their mission demanding China withdraw its rig.

Particularly, on May 26, Chinese ships sank a fishing boat belonging to Da Nang fishermen operating in the traditional fishing grounds near Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

(Source: VNA)