Argentine Council hosts East Sea seminar

Recent tensions in the East Sea after China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf were the topic of a seminar recently held by the Asian Commission of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI) in Buenos Aires.

>> Vietnam calls on parties to not complicate East Sea issue

In his statement, Vietnam Ambassador in Argentina Nguyen Dinh Thao stated that China's actions violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), running counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) to which China signed with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2002.

Int'l experts urge ASEAN unity to settle sea disputes

Exploitation of seabed oil and gas resources is one of several major contentious issues complicating the tense East Sea (known as South China Sea internationally) situation, a retired US diplomat said at an international conference held at Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City over the weekend. 

>> Int’l experts call for peaceful solutions to East Sea disputes

>> Experts talk legal issues on Chinese rig placed in VN’s waters

A Vietnamese people's naval soldier in Truong Sa archipelago

David Brown, an independent researcher, citing US Energy Information Administration data, said that oil and gas resources in the East Sea were equivalent to 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of gas. 

Int’l experts call for peaceful solutions to East Sea disputes

Foreign experts to an international workshop on legal issues regarding China’s illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig inside Vietnam’s waters have voiced that international law must be respected when it comes the settlement of current disputes in the East Sea. 

>> Experts talk legal issues on Chinese rig placed in VN’s waters

>> China asked not to take rig back for peace in East Sea

China’s oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981

They shared the view that for mutual interests and development in the region and the world, current disputes in the East Sea must be handled by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, ensuring independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of each nation. 

Experts talk legal issues on Chinese rig placed in VN’s waters

Vietnamese and foreign legal experts are gathering at an international workshop opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 26 to debate legal issues regarding China’s illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continent shelf. 

>> China's oil rig withdrawal from Vietnam waters: retreat or tactical feint?

>> The legend of China’s bogus "cow tongue"

The conference in HCM city

The foreign experts came from the US, Russia, Italia, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, India, the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. 

China's oil rig withdrawal from Vietnam waters: retreat or tactical feint?

The recent withdrawal of a giant Chinese oil rig from Vietnamese waters was welcomed with anxiety in Hanoi as many analysts have interpreted the departure as little more than tactical feint in a territorial battle that is sure to drag on.

>> China asked not to take rig back for peace in East Sea

>> China moves oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters

An officer on the Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel No. 8003 looks on as it is flanked by a Chinese Coast Guard ship, right, in Vietnamese waters west of the Paracel (Hoang Sa) Islands, on May 14, 2014.

On July 15, the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation announced that the US$1-billion oil rig had finished drilling near the Paracel (Hoang Sa) Islands, which the country seized by force in 1974.

The legend of China’s bogus "cow tongue"

The "cow tongue" or "nine dotted line" or “U-shaped line” is a product that has surprised the world, including some Chinese researchers, with some calling it "incomprehensible".

>> China asked not to take rig back for peace in East Sea

>> China moves oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters

China's vertical map.

A Chinese scholar had to admit: "It's embarrassing when international colleagues ask me about the nine dotted line!”

In 2009, China officially announced the U-shaped line map. Immediately, a well-known commentator of the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV station – Tiet Ly Thai - warned: "China is making a disaster for itself. The international community will never let that happen."

China asked not to take rig back for peace in East Sea

Vietnam demands China not take its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 back or dispatch any other rigs to Vietnam’s oil and gas Block 143 or any other areas belonging to Vietnam’s waters as prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in order to create a peaceful and stable environment in the East Sea, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh has said. 

>> China moves oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters

>> US Senate request China to withdraw drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 from Vietnam

China's drilling rigs Haiyang Shiyou-981 and ships violate Vietnam's exclusive economic zone

The spokesman made the statement on July 16 in reply to the news that China moved the rig that it has illegally placed in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone since early May. 

China moves oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) announced on July 15 that the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 has completed the drilling and exploration near Tri Ton island of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, and is heading towards Lingshui region of Hainan island.

>> Vietnamese in Netherlands, Japan oppose China

>> Vietnam welcomes US Senate’s Resolution 412

The leading oil and gas producer in China had illegally drilled two wells since early May and completed the work on May 27 and July 15.

Vietnamese in Netherlands, Japan oppose China

Large numbers of Overseas Vietnamese (OVs), including students, marched in The Hague, the Netherlands, on July 12 condemning China’s provocative acts in the East Sea.

>> Germany: Thousands protest against Chinese aggression

>> Int’l friends oppose China’s provocation in East Sea

This is the second time the OVs community has peacefully assembled to demand that China withdraw its illegally deployed Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig from Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

While marching through city streets, they hoisted national red flags high in the air along with posters and placards translated in three languages – Vietnamese, English and Dutch–condemning China’s actions, requesting it recognize and comply with international law.

Vietnam welcomes US Senate’s Resolution 412

Vietnam has welcomed the US Senate’s Resolution 412 which calls on China to withdraw its drilling rig and associated maritime forces from their current positions, and to return immediately to the status quo as it existed before May 1, 2014. 

>> US Senate request China to withdraw drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 from Vietnam

>> Int’l friends oppose China’s provocation in East Sea

Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh addressing the press conference

Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh made the statement on July 11 in reply to reporters’ questions regarding the US Senate’s approval of Resolution 412 on July 10. The resolution reaffirms “the strong support of the United States Government for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes.” 

US Senate request China to withdraw drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 from Vietnam

The US Senate on July 10 adopted a resolution coded S.RES.412 on the East Sea, requesting China to return immediately to the status quo as it existed before May 1, 2014.

>> Vietnamese ships maintain law enforcement duties at rig site

>> China keeps obstructing Vietnamese law enforcement forces

Vietnamese fishing boat DNa 90152 sunk by Chinese ships in Vietnam's waters

The resolution reaffirms “the strong support of the United States Government for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes”. 

Vietnamese ships maintain law enforcement duties at rig site

Chinese marine surveillance aircraft CMS-B3808 on July 10 was seen to flight above Vietnamese law enforcement ships that are operating in the national waters, close to where drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 is illegally standing, reported the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department. 

>> China keeps obstructing Vietnamese law enforcement forces

>> Chinese ships continue aggressive acts around oil rig’s site

Chinese ship hinders Vietnam's coast guard ship

At 11:45, 12:40 and 13:05, the CMS-B3808 circled above the Vietnamese ships at the height of 200-300m before leaving, it said. 

Clip: “Condemn China's actions about placement oil rig Haiyang Shiyou - 981 in Vietnam's waters”

Vietnam has full legal foundation and historical evidence to strongly prove its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes. For centuries (at least since the 17th century), Vietnam has established and practiced its sovereignty over the two archipelagoes when they were still derelict.

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 deep into Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Despite Vietnam’s protest, China expanded its scale of operation and had many provocative actions. China’s armed vessels have aggressively and consistently fired high-power water cannons at and intentionally rammed against Vietnamese public-service and civil ships, causing damage to many boats and injuring many people on board…

The following is clip “Condemn China's actions about placement oil rig Haiyang Shiyou - 981 in Vietnam's waters”:

>> Tension in the South China Sea - A true story

>> Hoang Sa and Truong Sa - parts of the sacred Vietnamese heart part 4

Source: chuquyenbiendao

China keeps obstructing Vietnamese law enforcement forces

China on July 8 mobilised an electronic reconnaissance plane to oversee the operation of Vietnamese law enforcement ships in the area that China is illegally placing its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981, reported the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department. 

>> Chinese ships continue aggressive acts around oil rig’s site

China's electronic reconnaissance plane at the site

From 7:15-8:05am, the TU-154M reconnaissance aircraft coded 1224 was seen flying at the attitude of 200-300m above the sea. 

Chinese ships continue aggressive acts around oil rig’s site

On July 6, the Chinese side continued its aggressive acts at the site where its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 is illegally standing in Vietnamese waters to prevent Vietnamese law enforcement ships from approaching the rig.

>> UN urged to circulate Vietnam documents on East Sea

>> Tension in the South China Sea - A true story

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

China still maintained around 110 ships of all kinds, including five military ships at the site. Whenever Vietnamese fisheries surveillance vessels came near the rig, Chinese ships simultaneously blasted sirens, sped up and came very close to stop them from moving farther. 

UN urged to circulate Vietnam documents on East Sea

Vietnam Ambassador Le Hoai Trung on July 3 requested UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, circulate two documents clarifying Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and exposing the fallacies of  China’s claims.

>> Friendship associations in Europe again protest China’s wrongful acts

>> Chinese vessels continue hindering Vietnamese fishing boats

A Vietnam Coast Guard ship performing its duty near the site where Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 is positioned.

In the first document, Vietnam plead with specificity the legal arguments for its opposition to China’s illegal placement of Haiyang Shiyou-981, countering all of the allegations China set forth in its notes dated May 22 and June 9 to the UN Secretary General.

Tension in the South China Sea - A true story

According to international law, Vietnam has sufficient historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over two Paracels and Spratlys archipelagoes, asserting that they are inseparable parts of Vietnam’s territory. Despite that fact, China used force, inconsistently with international law, to invade all Paracels on January 19^th 1974 and partly Spratlys on March 14^th 1988 , creating a state of sovereignty dispute with Vietnam in the two archipelagoes of Paracels and Spratlys. Following is the film "Tension in the South China Sea - A true story":

>> Hoang Sa and Truong Sa - parts of the sacred Vietnamese heart part 4

Source: chuquyenbiendao

Friendship associations in Europe again protest China’s wrongful acts

Associations for friendship with Vietnam in various European countries have issued a joint resolution demanding that China respect international law and immediately withdraw its oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters as well as stop all violent actions. 

>> French scholars criticise China’s illegal acts in East Sea

>> Int’l friends oppose China’s provocation in East Sea

Chinese ship chases Vietnam law enforcement vessel 

The resolution issued on June 30 was the common voice of friendship associations of France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, the UK, Denmark, the Swedish Committee for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and the Italian Institute for Vietnam Studies. 

Chinese vessels continue hindering Vietnamese fishing boats

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. 

>> Vietnamese authorities stay strong at oil rig site

>> China still adds fuel to East Sea hot spot

The Chinese side is becoming more and more aggressive in defending its illegal oil rig

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. 

Vietnamese authorities stay strong at oil rig site

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.

>> Chinese vessels fiercely defend illegal rig

>> East Sea tensions warned to get out of control

Damaged KN 951 ship which are being repaired in Da Nang

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.