….The long run prospect is all big
powers such as the US, Japan, Australia, India, would not stand by when facing
China's not so “ peaceful ” rising in the Western Pacific because of
their national interest in freedom of navigation and trade through the South
China Sea. Already in July 2010, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared
that the US considers Vietnam not only an important country but an integral
part of the strategy of increased American commitment in the Asian-Pacific
area, especially in South China Sea. Japan Emperor hosted President of Vietnam
in the latter's visit in 2014 to talk with Prime Minister Abe on military
assistance to Vietnam.
The Philippine President Aquino
and US Secretary Kerry also explicitly encouraged Vietnam to bring the issue to
the international tribunals. Indeed, Vietnam should sue early rather than late,
when the issues are still hot and in controversy and Vietnam has the counts of
grievances against China to present to the tribunal : invading Vietnam's
EEZ and Continental shelf, obstructing freedom of navigation on the ocean,
using force to destroy Vietnamese vessels and wound Vietnamese, depriving
livelihood of Vietnamese fishermen, violating their basic human rights, and
refusing to comply with the obligation imposed in UNCLOS to negotiate
seriously. If Vietnam waits until China moves away the rig and the military and
other vessels, the suit against the ghost of the rig would be without valid
purpose and become moot and Vietnam will miss a chance to assert strongly its
national interest in the maritime zone of the country in a law suit that
hopefully would bring China back to the international rule of law.
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