Over 110 Chinese vessels intensified Monday their aggressive acts against Vietnamese ships in the Vietnamese waters where the strong foreign fleet is protecting the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig that China has illegally placed there since early May.
>> China sends warplane to protect illegal rig in Vietnam's seas >> Encroaching Chinese vessel displays 'peaceful co-existence' banner in Vietnamese waters >> Chinese warships rush toward Vietnamese vessels in Vietnam's waters>> 6 Vietnamese fishermen illegally held on China’s Hainan Island
China deployed 112 ships in the waters yesterday, including 43 coast guard craft, 16 transport boats, 17 tugboats, 31 fishing vessels and five military ships, the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance Department reported.
Most of these foreign ships increased their threats against local vessels by approaching them to ram or blast them with high-powered water cannons in areas about 10 nautical miles from the rig, the department said.
These encroaching ships often sounded their sirens loudly and were prepared to crash into local vessels whenever possible in order to scare them away from the drilling platform.
There were times when the shortest distance between the foreign and local vessels was less than 100 meters.
Vietnamese Coast Guard and fisheries surveillance ships had to try their best to avoid being hit by Chinese vessels and maintain operations in the waters to demand that the rig and all its escorting ships leave the Vietnamese waters, the department said.
Meanwhile, a large number of Chinese iron-clad fishing vessels, with the support of two coast guard boats and two fishery logistics service ships, often came close to local fishing boats to drive them away from their traditional fishing ground about 42-45 nautical miles west-southwest of the rig.
Throughout yesterday, no Chinese planes were found flying above the area, the department said.
Beijing has still maintained the drilling rig within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf despite vehement protests from Hanoi.
There was no sign of movement of the rig yesterday, the department said.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Đăng ký: VietNam News
