The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and, with reference to China’s illegal deployment of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 in the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of Vietnam, has the honor to inform latter as follows:
1. According to the competent agencies of Vietnam and the announcement of Chinese Maritime Safety Administration, on 27th May 2014, the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 was moved to the location at 15-33.38N/111-34.62E, which is entirely within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam. The operation of China’s oil rig and its escorting ships constitutes a continued serious violation of Vietnam’s Sovereignty rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and defined in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China’s action also violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, the Vietnam – China Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issuses and other relevant agreements between high-level leaders of the two countries, gravely undermining the political trust between the two countries. Vietnam resolutely protests against China’s illegal action.
2. In the past days, in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and other agreements between the two countries, Vietnam has made very effort to communicate and conduct dialogue with China under various forms and at various levels to demand China to immediately terminate acts that infringe upon Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, create conditions for immediate commencement of discussions between the two the two sides on measures to stablize the situation and control the maritime issues between the two countries. China has not only failed to respond to Vietnam’s goodwill, but also arbitrarily moved the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 and escorting ships to another location well within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam, continued to dispatch more military ships, such as fast attack crafts, missle-armed frigates, amphibious transport docks and fighter jets to the area where the oil rig is operating. More seriously, Chinese ships rammed and sank Vietnamese fishing boat DNa 90152 TS with 10 fishermen on board fishing in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam, and rammed and broke the Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel CSB 2016 on duty in the Vietnamese waters. These actions by China have aggravated tensions in the East Sea, seriously threatened peace, stability, freedom of navigation and maritime security and safety in the region, causing concern in the international community, fueling discontent among the Vietnamese people and adversely affecting the good friendship and the long-standing, traditional ties between the two countries’s parties, goverments and peoples.
3. Once again, Vietnam seriously demands that China respect international law, immediately terminate all activities that vilolate Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, withdraw the oil rig, ships and all other related vehicles from Vietnam’s waters and desist from similar actions in the future. Vietnam also solemnly requests China to resolve all maritime disputes as well as those concerning China’s illegal deployment of the oil rig in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam, through negotiations or other peacful means in conformity with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Socialist Republic of Vietnam avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China the assurances of its highest consideration.
VNA/VNP
Đăng ký: VietNam News
