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.
The CNPC’s statement comes amidst worries that typhoon Rammasun which is heading towards the East Sea will continue to regain strength and cause great damage.
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The Vietnam law enforcement force found that oil platform Haiyang Shiyou-981 was moving northwest from its location at 21.10pm on July 15. The platform was escorted by a large number of vessels.
Many Chinese fishing boats operating near the oil rig were also found moving towards Hainan island.
China illegally towed its giant floating rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 to Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf on May 1. It also dispatched a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft to protect the rig. The vessels aggressively intimidated, fired water cannons at and rammed Vietnam’s fishing boats and law enforcement ships.
Vietnam has many times asserted its indisputable sovereignty over its Hang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, as well as its sovereign right and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
China’s illegal placement of oil rig is a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa, its sovereign right and jurisdiction in the East Sea. It violates international law and the Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues.
It also runs counter to the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and complicates situation in the East Sea.
Chinese actions have received strong protests from Vietnam, international politicians, scholars, and peace-loving people around the globe.