China keeps five military ships to
defend its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 which is illegally standing in
Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, reported the Vietnam
Fisheries Surveillance Department on June 30.
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Damaged KN 951 ship which are
being repaired in Da Nang
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The Chinese side has maintained
up to 120 ships of various kinds around the rig site, including 46-48 coast
guard vessels, 13-15 cargo ships, 34 fishing ships, and 16-18 tugboats.
When Vietnamese fisheries
surveillance ships tried to approach the rig at a distance of 10-11.5 nautical
miles to demand China immediately withdraw its rig and ships out of Vietnam’s
waters, Chinese ships sped towards, besieged and obstructed Vietnamese ships
from the site.
Braving the Chinese
blockade and aggression, Vietnamese fisheries surveillance ships still stayed
there to continue with communication activities.
Vietnamese fishing ships,
while conducting normal catching activities at the traditional fishing grounds
40-44 nautical miles from the rig, were hindered by nearly 34 Chinese fishing
ships backed by two coast guard ships.
Thanks to help by Vietnam’s
fisheries surveillance ships, they were able to continue activities in safety
there.
According to the
department, the position of the rig remains unchanged on the day.
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
at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes
06 seconds east longitude, 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 continental shelf and
exclusive economic zone.
Ever since the tensions
began, Vietnam has exercised the utmost restraint, shown every gesture of
goodwill and exhausted all dialogue channels to communicate with Chinese
authorities of different levels in order to express protest and demand China
immediately withdraw its rig and armed and military vessels out of Vietnam’s
waters.
Nevertheless, up to now,
China has failed to respond to Vietnam’s legitimate demand. On the contrary, it
has been slandering and blaming Vietnam while continuing to escalate the use of
force and violations in an increasingly dangerous and serious manner.
By encircling, chasing,
ramming and firing water cannons at Vietnamese boats, they have injured many
sailors and fishermen, threatening their safety.
Source: VNA/VNN
