Hanoi (VNA) - Many internationalexperts have criticised China's illegal activities in the East Sea and demandedChina to end its actions that have increased tensions in the region, to comply withinternational law and to implement trust-building measures to avoid conflicts.

Chinese geological surveyvessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8’s recent activities in the Tu Chinh reef,internationally known as Vanguard Bank, in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ)in the East Sea hascaused concerns in the international community.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s reporters in Sydney, Prof. Carl A.Thayer of the Australian Defence Force Academy said China's actions haveinfringed on Vietnam's EEZ, adding that China’s other commercial and surveyactivities in the area must be permitted by Vietnam because only Vietnam hasthe right to all resources in the waters and the seabed in its EEZ.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs to raise its voice aboutthis issue as China also carried out similar activities in the waters of thePhilippines and Malaysia, he stressed, adding that if ASEAN member countries donot protest, these actions will continue repeating many times in the future.

The ASEAN countries should show their tough standpoint in their dialogues withChina, he noted.

Meanwhile, James Gomes, Executive Director at the Asia Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, highly evaluated Vietnam's properbehaviour in the current tension with China in the East Sea, saying that the seamust be a free and peaceful region for travel, trade and cooperation among countries.

According to Dr. Takashi Hosoda from Charles University of the Czech Republic saidChina is undermining the trust of the international community.

Talking to VNA correspondents in Prague, Hosoda said the area around the TuChinh reef where Vietnam has explored and exploited oil and gas is fullylocated in Vietnam’s EEZ and China has no foundations to claim sovereignty inthe area.

China's actions clearly violated Vietnam's EEZ andcontinental shelf, as well as international law, especially the 1982United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which China isalso a member.

The internationalcommunity, especially the ASEAN, the US, Japan, Australia, India, France, andthe UK, need to continue having a strong voice and concrete actions to curbChina's escalating activities.

The ASEAN should strengthen intra-bloc solidarity and ASEAN member states thathave sovereignty claims in the East Sea should persistently struggle againstand prevent China’s deterrent activities in the East Sea and settle disputeswithout affecting bilateral relations with China for strategic interests ofeach country, and for peace, stability and development in the region and theworld, he said.

According to Prof. Go Ito from Meiji University of Japan, China's recent actionsin the East Sea are facing increasing criticism from the internationalcommunity.

He underlined the necessity for Vietnam to strengthen itsstrength by further expanding friendly relations with countries, which sharetheir views with Vietnam's maritime policy.-VNA