China can’t alter legitimate rights of Vietnam in East Sea China cannot change the legal rights of Vietnam over the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), affirmed experts at a two-day conference themed “East Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development” held from November 17-18 in the central city of Danang. The two-day conference is the continuance of efforts to exchange opinions and seek experts’ ideas for the East Sea issue.  In the second working session on November 18, the scholars analyzed factors affecting the East Sea situation in recent times, namely the changed schemes of some countries on strategic interests of the concerned parties, the increasing nationalism of claimants, the impact of competition between major powers and the disagreement in explanation and application of international law in the East Sea, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In regard to the recent East Sea situation and policies of the concerned parties, many speakers argued that the increase in the number and operations of paramilitary forces and non-law enforcement forces in the Sea East is one of the causes of tensions in the region. Notably, China’s large-scale expansion on the reefs in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago is altering the status quo in the East Sea. Dr. Hoang Viet, lecturer from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law who is also a researcher on the East Sea said,"Many geographical entities and structures over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes are just reefs but China said that the islands have been inhabited, and it has the rights in the EEZ and continental shelf. If China succeeds in improving the reefs, it would have submersible aircraft carriers that enable it to reach the goal of controlling the East Sea. As Taiwanese and Japanese scholars have forecast, China is likely to declare an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the Spratly islands and the East Sea.” Dr Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, deputy dean of the International Law Department under the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam said islands can cover a full sea area while artificial islands only have safe waters within only maximum 500m. According to Dr. James Charles Kraska from Stockton Center for the Study of International Law of the US Naval War College said although China has illegally occupied the Paracel islands, lodging an unjustifiable nine-dotted line claim, it can not change Vietnam’s legal rights over the EEZ. The same day, the experts also debated the provisions of international law adjusting the regulations of territorial waters and airspace, claims in the East Sea, marine dispute resolution and measures to build confidence and prevent maritime conflicts. VOV