US Senator Joe Lieberman addresses at the ongoing conference in Washington.
(Photo: Minh Hien)
(VOVworld) – China is urged to put itself in other countries’ position for a suitable action in the East Sea. A conference on maritime security in the East Sea organized by the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington entered in to its 2nd day. At the conference, US Senator Joe Liberman remarked that what is happening in the East Sea affects not only the US, but also the world. He said that tensions in the East Sea are a test for China on how it treats neighboring countries if it gains control of the region. Joe Liberman said China’s policy in the East Sea is generating skepticism, causing China to be isolated in the region and the world. Joe Liberman: “I concern about China’s behavior in the East Sea. I believe it’s pushing the region in the wrong direction and sending a message that is discouraging about what kind of great power China will be and how it will relate to its closest neighbors the overly brought scope of nature and basis of China’s claims are quite naturally fostering a climate of anxiety and driving other parties, most recently Vietnam and the Philippines to fortify their own claims”.

Speaking to reporters, Liberman offered his view: “The claims of China have made of its East Sea are so broad that other countries have to take action. I hope that China will step back so that conflicts can be resolved”.

At the conference, scholars and researchers pointed out reasons of increasing conflict in the East Sea, including a long history of disputes between parties, lack of transparency in sovereignty claims, lack of trust between countries, and lack of transparent policies. Scholars recommend setting up more dialogue channels for frequent information exchange, creating a cooperation mechanism, establish a third party mediator to consolidate and build trust between countries to resolve conflict in the East Sea. Liberman said that the US will soon approve the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as a means towards contributing to conflict resolution in the East Sea.

Dr. Bonnie Glasser, an expert on Asia from CSIS said: “China has to learn to put itself in the shoes of other countries. You can’t simply dismiss the concern of other countries. That’s really not the China’s interests.”