The Chinese province of Hainan’s recent unilateral ruling on fishing restrictions in the East Sea is really illegal and irrational, said Former Head of the Ministry of Public Security’s Major-General Le Van Cuong.

Major-General Le Van Cuong

Cuong showed his strong opposition to this fishing restriction as well as China’s setup of controversial Air Defense Identification Zone on East China Sea recently.

According to the decision, China claimed waters cover 2 million square kilometres, accounting for almost two thirds of the total area of the East Sea. 

Vessels that enter the area without Hainan’s approval are subject to fines of up to 500,000 Chinese Yuan (VND1.7 billion).

Cuong said that the unilateral fishing rules violates 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), do not conform to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and violate Vietnam’s Law of the Sea as well as its sovereignty over sea and islands.

Major-General Cuong said, depending on the specific conditions of geography, some coastal countries could issue fishing restrictions in their territorial waters to protect resources and environment.

According to Cuong, countries can issue bans in their territorial waters within 200 nautical miles, according to UN rules. However, the Chinese fishing restrictions on the East Sea are shared by many other countries. Vietnam has strongly opposed to China’s action.

“China's actions are not acceptable. It has the sound of a household that bans its neighbours to fish in their pond,” he commented.

“With this illegal action, China has again besmudged its face in world community. The more China shows its illegal activities, the more the world community doesn’t really believe in their intention toward peaceful development,” said Major-General Cuong.

Cuong added that, in 2003, China launched its peaceful development policy, which says that China will not interfere in the internal affairs or violate sovereignty of any other country;

On May 26, 2011, a Chinese fishing boat damaged the cables of Vietnamese Viking 2 ship, and other incidents followed.

He added, “These illegal activities have occurred because of China’s ambition to occupy Truong Sa and Hoang Sa Islands, going against their peaceful commitments. With these activities, China has damaged its own prestige in the world community.”

Major-General Cuong said Vietnam and other ASEAN countries should have a clearer plan of action against illegal Chinese activities.

“We are not in a fight against China, but we are determined to protect our sovereignty,” he noted