Professor Edward Miller of the US’s Dartmouth College has noted that theinternational community is backing Vietnam in the ongoing East Sea row. “In the area of international public opinion, I think, thesentiment is more favourable to Vietnam,” Miller, a specialist inAmerican Foreign Relations and modern Vietnam, told Vietnam News Agencycorrespondents in New York. Many people look at China actions,not just in the East Sea, but in their dealings with their conflictswith Japan over islands territory in the East China Sea, he said. Chinais increasingly being seen as “pursuing a pattern of expansion inmaritime areas,” he added. “This is something that makes peoplevery suspicious about China in the international community and I thinkthat could be an advantage for Vietnam as it seeks to mobilise thesupport for its response to the crisis,” he stated. According toMiller, China’s illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig inVietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf is “an attemptto take advantage of superiority it has in the military ground in theEast Sea.” “I do not believe that this move is an economic movebecause it is not very likely that there is any oil in this particularpart of the seabed. It is a much more political move. So it is anattempt by China to demonstrate its ability to change the status quo inthe East Sea.” According to the professor, many countries have an interest in the East Sea because of the trade and communications. TheUS also has interests there and is in support of freedom of navigationand access. As such, US leaders are seriously concerned about China’srecent actions in the East Sea. “It is to Vietnam’s advantage totry to internationalise this conflict,” in order to “increase pressureson China in the sphere of international opinion,” he said. Miller warned of China’s future strategy, suggesting “Vietnam need to plan ahead.” He also advised that Vietnam needs to take necessary legal steps to solve disputes.-VNA