(VOVworld) – China is causing tensions in the East Sea to achieve its political objectives, said US Congressmen Randy Forbes, Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee on Wednesday. His statement condemned China’s provocative acts in the East Sea that led to the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel near the location of China’s oil rig Haiyang-981 within Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

Vietnamese fishermen are still operating offshore, a way to confirm Vietnam's sovereignty. (Photo: VNA)

The same day, Pier Ferdinando Casini, Chairman of the Italian Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, said that Rome is deeply concerned over China’s acts in the East Sea. In a conference on international sea law, Casini recommended that East Sea issues be resolved by peaceful measures with respect to the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea.

Earlier, Deputy Enzo Amendola of the Italian Democratic Party said all unilateral acts will pose serious threats to security in the region, which is one of the world’s economic hubs.

On Wednesday in Moscow, executive members of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association agreed that all territorial disputes must be settled by negotiations. They cited the Russian President as saying for several times that Russia is a strategic partner of Vietnam and backs peaceful settlement of disputes.