The latest developments in the East Sea
came to the fore at a seminar held by the Sri Lanka - Vietnam Solidarity
Association in Colombia on June 18, after China illegally placed its drilling
rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental
shelf in early May.
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China's
oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 is illegally positioned in Vietnam's waters
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Vietnamese Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh debunked China’s
groundless arguments and confirmed that it has seriously violated international
law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC)
that China signed with ASEAN.
Such behaviour is the cause of the East Sea tension and a
threat to peace, stability, security and safety of navigation in the region,
worrying the global community, the diplomat said.
Chairman of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka Raja Collure
expressed his deep concern over the issue and described China’s placement of
its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters as a wrongful act.
Both Collure and Secretary General of the association S.
Sudasinghe condemned China’s illegal deeds and supported Vietnam in pursuing
peaceful means to ease tension in the East Sea.
Earlier on June 16, Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Ha Thi
Ngoc Ha met with Chairman of the Chilean Senate Foreign Relations Commission
Juan Pablo Letelier Morel to inform him of the fresh developments in the East
Sea.
The Chilean senator said he had held talks with the
Vietnamese delegation at the Group of 77 (G77) recent summit in Bolivia ,
during which he expressed his deep concerned over the politically serious
issue, and showed solidarity with Vietnam.
Since early May, China has illegally operated the rig and a
large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft in Vietnam ’s waters.
Despite Vietnam’s protests, China has expanded its scale of
operation and recently moved the rig to 15 degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north
latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 11 seconds east longitude, which is 60
nautical miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic
zone.
Source: VNA
