Damaged KN 951 vessel in the spotlight

Vietnamese fisheries surveillance ship KN-951 was recently violently attacked, rammed and seriously damaged by Chinese ships. 

>> China still adds fuel to East Sea hot spot

>> China blatantly declares regular patrols in East Sea

The ship is one of Vietnam’s law enforcement vessels operating in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago in defence of China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou- 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

For the past two months, fishermen on the KN951 surveillance ship have approached the oilrig area requesting China to withdraw its drilling platform, escort and coast guard vessels from Vietnam’s territorial waters.

Following are some images of the damaged KN 951 ship which are urgently being repaired in Da Nang. 

Photos: Vietnam rejects China’s East Sea wrongful allegations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an international press conference in Hanoi on June 16 to clarify China’s wrongful, groundless allegations of the current situation in the East Sea made on June 13 and provided fresh developments.

>> Chinese ships damage Vietnamese fisheries surveillance vessel

>> Chinese vessels continue blocking Vietnamese ships in oil rig site

The Chinese coast guard vessel attacks a Vietnamese fisheries surveillance vessel.

Vice Chairman of the National Boundary Commission Tran Duy Hai stated that Vietnam has made every effort and shown every gesture of goodwill to solve the current tension in the East Sea, which was sparked by China’s illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig  in Vietnam’s waters, via negotiations and peaceful solutions but China has responded in an unconstructive manner.

Protests in Europe against China continue

In an echo of previous German-based protests against China’s dispatch of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Vietnam’s waters, nearly 7,000 Vietnamese and foreign citizens on June 15 staged a third rally from downtown Berlin to the Chinese embassy.

>> Vietnamese nationals in Scandinavia protest China

>> International friends demonstrate to support Vietnam

Vietnamese in Berlin protest illegal Chinese actions in the Vietnamese exclusive economic zone

They marched from Alexanderpatz square in eastern Berlin, and heard a German-language speech disclosing China’s wrongful and blatant acts in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

Vietnam’s case for sovereignty in the East Sea? An abundance of history

From more than five centuries ago, Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands were acknowledged by Western cartographers and navigators as the territories of Vietnam.

Ancient world maps recognized Hoang Sa and Truong Sa as belonging to Vietnam:

>> Royal documents affirms Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea, islands

>> 150 exhibits prove Vietnam’s sovereignty over Paracel, Spratly Islands

This map by Jodocus Hondius in 1613 shows the Paracel Islands, and includes all of the islands of Vietnam from the southern Gulf of Tonkin to the southern coast of Vietnam, except Pulo Condor (Con Dao) and Pulo Cici (Phu Quoc), which are drawn separately.

            While the ancient maps of China published by China itself and other countries before the twentieth century show that Hainan Island is the southernmost border of China, many ancient maps of Vietnam, published by the world and Vietnam itself drew the Paracel and the Spratly Islands as Vietnamese territories.

Vietnamese nationals in Scandinavia protest China

A number of Vietnamese protestors in Sweden and Norway showed their solidarity with their countrymen on June 1 in a march to oppose illegal Chinese actions in the Vietnamese exclusive economic zone.

>> International friends demonstrate to support Vietnam  

   

Vietnamese in Norway protest illegal Chinese actions in the Vietnamese exclusive economic zone

 Around 300 Vietnamese people in Sweden took to the streets of Stockholm, waving banners and demanding that China remove its oil rig from Vietnam’s waters.

International friends demonstrate to support Vietnam

"China has acted unilaterally. They’ve acted like uninvited guests who enter your home, plop themselves down on the sofa, and when you start raising objections, accuse you of unfriendliness. This is unacceptable," said Sicard, a Frenchman.

On May 24, about 200 Vietnamese marched in the city of Grenoble, in southeastern France, to protest China’s deployment of its drilling rig in Vietnam's waters. The protest attracted not only students and expatriates who have lived for many years in France, but also many local and international friends. Some local organizations, such as the French Trade Union, the French Students’ Association in Grenoble (UNEF) and the Union of Human Rights (LDH) sent representatives to the demonstration to show their support for Vietnam. Correspondents of many French newspapers, like Dauphiné Libere and France 3, also reported the event.

150 exhibits prove Vietnam’s sovereignty over Paracel, Spratly Islands

The exhibition of historical and legal evidences asserting that Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) and Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) belong to Vietnam is held in the central province of Phu Yen from March 28 to April 3, on the occasion of Vietnam Seafood Festival 2014.

A map issued by China and Japan in 1947 shows that China’s territory ends at Hainan Island, not including Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

Photo exhibit captures attitudes of the young towards the East Sea

A group of young people have compiled a collection of photographs showing a perspective of the East Sea through their eyes in order to draw attention to sovereignty issues.

The photos were selected from a collection taken from well-known Vietnamese beaches in Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces, such as Dai Lanh, Hon Nua, Nam Du, Van Phong Bay and Phu Quy Island.

The collection is comprised 27 colour photos, all of which show a patriotic love for Vietnam's waters. The works have attracted much attention from young people, who are equally united in their desire to preserve and protect the territory of their country.