(CPV) - China’s acts to place the HD – 981 deep sea rig into the East Sea of Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf is illegal. It is considered China’s latest dynamic in monopolizing the East Sea. During law enforcement operations at sea, Vietnam’s enforcement personnel have exercised the utmost restraint in the face of Chinese ships’ aggressive, perverse actions which disregard international law.
Chinese ships damaged Vietnam's coast guard vessels. (Photo: the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance)
According to the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance, on May 1st, while its ships were on patrol in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, they detected the HD – 981 deep sea rig and escorts of China moving from the northeastern area of Tri Ton Island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago to the south.
Although Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance ships tried to prevent China’s ships from violating sovereignty in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, China continued to act in violation of sovereignty and increased escorts to protect the rig, attempting to deploy the rig into the sea.
As of May 7th, China deployed many vessels, up to 80 at peak time, of various kinds, including military ships backed by boats of marine police, marine surveillance forces and fishery administration forces, as well as transport and fishing vessels. In addition, dozens of Chinese planes operated daily on the area. A flotilla of armed fishing boats and military ships prowled 50-60 nautical miles from Ly Son island.
Chinese ships aggressively fired water cannon at, and even rammed, Vietnamese vessels, damaging Vietnam’s coast guard vessels and injuring crew members.
Over the past days, the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance worked with the Vietnam Coast Guard to resolutely struggle to maintain sovereignty while showing restraint to prevent conflict, maintaining the peaceful and stable environment at sea.
Ngo Mai Thinh, a representative from the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance said that the agency would continue every measure available to force China’s rig to leave Vietnam’s territorial waters; asking China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly Archipelagos; respect Vietnam’s sovereign right and jurisdictional right over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf./.
Đăng ký: VietNam News