(Dan Tri) – American expert Greg Poling believes that China must be punished for its excessive maritime claims in the East Sea.

Chinese coast guard ship (above) and Philippine ship `encountered` in the East Sea in 2014. (Photo: AFP)

On February 1, Abs-Cbn news agency quoted Mr. Greg Poling, director of the Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) based in Washington (USA), saying that

`If they don’t do that, they won’t realize the price they have to pay for what they did in the South China Sea,` Mr. Poling said.

CSIS predicts that tensions will continue to increase in the East Sea as China seeks to demonstrate its power in this sea.

Mr. Poling’s statement came after China recently passed a law allowing its coast guard to open fire on foreign ships.

The new law also allows the Chinese coast guard to destroy foreign-built structures in waters or on islands that China claims.

`Even without this law, the Chinese coast guard has behaved harshly and illegally. This law really does not change the nature, but just gives (China) an additional tool,` Mr. Poling admitted.

According to American experts, the new law will allow China to have more excuses for its coast guard to use the next time they sink a foreign ship or at least intentionally collide to prevent oil and gas exploitation activities.

To deal with China’s new law, expert Poling said that parties to disputes in the East Sea should cooperate with the US and Europe to put both economic and diplomatic pressure on Beijing.

China’s maritime law officially takes effect from February 1.

Professor Jay Batongbacal at the University of the Philippines said that the Philippines and countries that claim sovereignty over the East Sea should take a common stance to oppose China’s maritime law.

`This law essentially allows the Chinese coast guard to use force to enforce jurisdiction over waters that it claims. All of us, the affected countries, and our allies

The Philippine professor said the new law poses a `big problem` and this is a sign that China is increasingly stepping up its sovereignty claims in the East Sea.

`The use of force by the Chinese coast guard can be considered truly an act of aggression, contrary to the United Nations charter and tantamount to an act of war if they attempt to do so in Chinese waters.`

According to Philippine experts, China’s adoption of the new maritime law shows that the country continues its expansion plan in the East Sea, despite ongoing negotiations with other countries.