China on July 1 dispatched
34 fishing vessels backed by two coast guard ships to hamper Vietnamese fishing
boats from approaching the area where the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 is
illegally standing.
The Chinese side is becoming
more and more aggressive in defending its illegal oil rig
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According to the Vietnam
Fisheries Surveillance Department, China has maintained a large fleet of
114-120 vessels of all kinds surrounding its drilling platform, including five
warships.
Despite China’s aggressive
manner, the Vietnamese fisheries surveillance forces managed to approach the
rig at a distance of 10-11 nautical miles, persistently demanding China to
remove oil rig and escort ships from Vietnam’s waters.
They have also done their
best to ensure safety for Vietnamese fishermen.
At the beginning of May
2014, China illegally dispatched the rig as well as a large fleet of armed
vessels, military ships and aircraft to Vietnam’s waters and positioned the rig
80 miles deep into Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic
zone.
Despite Vietnam’s protest,
China expanded its scale of operation and moved the rig to 15 degrees 33
minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 11 seconds east
longitude, 60 nautical miles deep inside Vietnam’s waters.
By encircling, chasing,
ramming and firing water cannons at Vietnamese boats, they have injured many
sailors and fishermen, threatening their safety.
Source: VNA/VOV