A large number of Chinese ships stationed around the Haiyang
Shiyou-981 oil rig, which is illegally placed in Vietnam’s waters, formed
groups of up to 40 and aggressively barred Vietnamese law enforcement authority
vessels from approaching, reported the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance
Department on June 3.
>> Chinese ships attack Vietnamese fishing boats 6 times over 19 days
>> Chinese provocative activities in East Sea escorted by Chinese media
>> Chinese ships attack Vietnamese fishing boats 6 times over 19 days
>> Chinese provocative activities in East Sea escorted by Chinese media
Four Chinese coast guard and maritime surveillance ships
encircle Vietnamese law enforcement authority vessel
|
In addition to about 40 coast guard ships, approximately 30
cargo ships and tugboats, 45 fishing vessels and four warships from China were
in the area, as well as two Chinese aircraft, the department revealed.
Facing the violent disturbance of Chinese forces, the
Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance authority ships continued to persistently and
intensively approach the oil rig as close as they could, about seven nautical
miles, to demand China immediately remove it out of Vietnam’s waters.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese fishermen have maintained their normal
operations in their traditional fishing ground in Vietnam’s waters about 18-20
nautical miles from the rig, despite the regular intimidation of the Chinese
side.
As of June 3, the oil rig maintained its position at 15
degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 11
seconds east longitude. The location is 25 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island
in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, completely within Vietnam’s
continental shelf.
At the beginning of May, China illegally dispatched the rig
and a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, to Vietnam’s
waters and positioned it at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and
111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location was 80 miles
deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. It was moved
on May 27 to its current position.
Ever since, Chinese ships have continuously encircled,
constrained and driven away Vietnamese fishing boats and even injured
Vietnamese fishermen, threatening their lives.
A Chinese ship on May 26 even sank a Vietnamese fishing
vessel with 10 fishermen on board within Vietnam’s waters. The fishermen were
rescued.
Source: dtinews