(VOVworld)-The US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) organized a conference on maritime security in the East Sea in Washington, USA, on Wednesday. Delegates from Asia and America discussed the importance of the East Sea and relations between the US, ASEAN and China and made recommendations on strengthening security and cooperation in the region.

Carl Thayer, Emeritus Professor of Politics, the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defense Force Academy

Carl Thayer, Emeritus Professor of Politics, the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defense Force Academy, said that China’s U-shaped line claim lacks legal foundation under the international law:“China drew the U-shaped line in 1948 before the UN Convention on the law of the sea and made it public in 2009. This claim counters the UN Convention and is not relevant.”

Dr. Bonnie Glaser from the Center for Strategic and International Studies warned that the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation’s invitation of international bids for nine oil and gas lots within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone would trigger new regional concerns and participating bidders would face high risks:“The oil and gas lots invited for international bidding are within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. This is not good for resolution of dispute between Vietnam and China in the future and cast a negative impact on settlement of similar dispute between China and the Philippines.”

Scholars agreed on the role played by ASEAN in the resolution of dispute in the East Sea. US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs, Kurt Campbell reiterated US policy to oppose the use of force and threat to use force to settle conflict in the East Sea.