Thứ Tư 15 tháng 7 vừa qua có buổi tường trình về biển Đông và các tranh chấp lãnh hải ở Đông Á Thái Bình Dương cho ban quan hệ quốc tế của thương nghị viện Mỹ. Thượng nghị sĩ Jim Webb, cựu thủy quân lục chiến Mỹ, có tham gia chiến tranh Việt Nam, làm chủ tọa. Ông Webb phát biểu khai mạc, trong đó có đoạn:
“At the pinnacle of this issue is China’s growing military, diplomatic and economic power, not only in the region but world-wide. China’s evolution has changed the regional economic balance, and has enabled China to expand its political influence. Across the East Asian mainland, from Burma to Vietnam, we have heard statements of concern about the impact of China’s reach.
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“In Vietnam, this past January General Vo Nguyen Giap, commander-in-chief for the Vietnam People’s Army during the Vietnam War and former defense minister, sent an open letter to the Vietnamese government. He called for a halt to a huge, mulit-billion dollar Chinese bauxite mining project in Vietnam’s central highlands, citing environmental damage, harm to ethnic minorities, and—most importantly—a threat to Vietnam’s national security.
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“Additionally, many observers note that China’s pattern of intimidation may hinder free and fair economic development in the region. For example, China’s recent detention of Vietnamese fisherman near the Paracel Islands and its overt threats to U.S. oil companies operating in the South China Sea highlight the increased risks to shipping and fishing and the limited prospects resource exploitation. These actions left unanswered may threaten the well-being of the region.
Sau đó có hai panels. Danh sách những người tham gia và liên kết đến các phát biểu của họ như sau. Tất cả các phát biểu đều rất đáng chú ý.
Panel 1:
- The Honorable Scot Marciel
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for East Asian and ASEAN Affairs
Department of State
Washington, DC. Phát biểu dạng pdf. - Robert Scher
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
for South and Southeast Asia
Department of Defense
Washington, DC. Phát biểu dạng pdf.
Panel 2:
- Peter Dutton
Associate Professor of Strategic Studies
China Maritime Studies Institute,
U.S. Naval War College
Washington, DC. Phát biểu dạng pdf. - Daniel Blumenthal
Resident Fellow
American Enterprise Institute
Washington, DC. Phát biểu dạng pdf. - Richard Cronin
Senior Associate
The Henry L. Stimson Center
Washington, DC. Phát biểu dạng pdf.