Up to 123 Chinese vessels on June 25 aggressively approached Vietnamese law enforcement ships to prevent them from getting close to rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 that is illegally standing in Vietnam’s waters, reported the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department.
China on June 24 sent more than 100 ships, including six military vessels, to protect its oil rig illegally stationed in Viet Nam's waters.
At 7:00-7:30, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft was also seen flying at a height of 1,500 m above the rig before leaving, according to the department.
Meanwhile, 40 Chinese fishing vessels, supported by two coast guard ships coded 46102 and 46106, tried to stop Vietnamese fishing boats from fishing in the area near the rig, which is the traditional fishing ground of Vietnamese fishermen.
However, despite the aggressive acts of the Chinese side, Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance ships tried to avoid collision and stayed at the site to continue performing their mission in the area, demanding China to immediately remove the rig out of Vietnam’s waters, the department stated.
They also ensured safety for Vietnamese fishing boats during their normal operation in their traditional fishing ground near the rig, it said.
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.
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.
Chinese ships have also continuously encircled, constrained and driven away Vietnamese fishing boats operating normally in its traditional fishing ground near Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago.
Vietnamese fisheries surveillance vessels continued their duties between nine and 11 nautical miles from the rig. At the same time, they communicated with the Chinese, asking them to withdraw the rig and escort their ships out of Viet Nam's waters.
Supported by fisheries surveillance ships, the Vietnamese fishermen continued their normal activities 40-45 nautical miles west-southwest of the rig.
At 7:00-7:30, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft was also seen flying at a height of 1,500 m above the rig before leaving, according to the department.
Meanwhile, 40 Chinese fishing vessels, supported by two coast guard ships coded 46102 and 46106, tried to stop Vietnamese fishing boats from fishing in the area near the rig, which is the traditional fishing ground of Vietnamese fishermen.
However, despite the aggressive acts of the Chinese side, Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance ships tried to avoid collision and stayed at the site to continue performing their mission in the area, demanding China to immediately remove the rig out of Vietnam’s waters, the department stated.
They also ensured safety for Vietnamese fishing boats during their normal operation in their traditional fishing ground near the rig, it said.
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.
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.
Chinese ships have also continuously encircled, constrained and driven away Vietnamese fishing boats operating normally in its traditional fishing ground near Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago.
Vietnamese fisheries surveillance vessels continued their duties between nine and 11 nautical miles from the rig. At the same time, they communicated with the Chinese, asking them to withdraw the rig and escort their ships out of Viet Nam's waters.
Supported by fisheries surveillance ships, the Vietnamese fishermen continued their normal activities 40-45 nautical miles west-southwest of the rig.
