In China, Hanoi demands Beijing to “respect Vietnamese sovereignty in South China Sea”

China must respect Vietnam’s legitimate rights and interests in the South China Sea, known as the East Sea in Vietnam, in conformity with international law, Hanoi has just made the statement following Chinese latest aggression since the beginning of this month in the contested sea. 
 

Vo Van Thuong, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Communication and Education Commission, and Zhao Leji, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Politburo’s Standing Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Committee’s Discipline Inspection Commission in China's Guizhou on July 21. Photo: VNS

The demand was directly made on July 21 in China’s Guiyang city by Vo Van Thuong, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Communication and Education Commission, local media reported. 

Thuong made the demand at a joint meeting in China’s Guizhou Province with Zhao Leji, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Politburo’s Standing Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Committee’s Discipline Inspection Commission.

Vietnam repeated protests on China’s approach to Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea (SCS). 
 

Spokeswoman of Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Le Thi Thu Hang. Photo: MOFA

On July 19, Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Le Thi Thu Hang said activities by Chinese survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 and its escorts in the Southern area of the South China Sea, severely violate Vietnam’s sovereignty. 

“This area lies entirely within the Vietnamese waters,” Hang said, demanding China to stop all unlawful activities and withdraw its ships from Vietnamese waters.

The Vietnamese spokesperson informed that Vietnam has made contacts with China in multiple occasions via different channels, delivered diplomatic note to oppose China’s violations. 
 

US State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus. Photo: State.gov

The Chinese move has sparked concerns from the US. On July 20, State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the US is concerned by reports of China’s interference with oil and gas activities in the South China Sea (SCS), including Vietnam’s long-standing exploration and production activities.

“China’s repeated provocative actions aimed at the offshore oil and gas development of other claimant states threaten regional energy security and undermine the free and open Indo-Pacific energy market,” according to the spokeswoman. 

The United States firmly opposes coercion and intimidation by any claimant to assert its territorial or maritime claims, she said, adding that China should cease its bullying behavior and refrain from engaging in this type of provocative and destabilizing activity. 
 

Chinese vessel Haiyang Dizhi in South China Sea. Photo: South China Morning Post

What happened?

Chinese and Vietnamese coast guard vessels have reportedly been engaged in a week-long confrontation around Vietnam’s Bai Tu Chinh (Vanguard Bank) in the SCS, according to Stratfor. 

The standoff was allegedly sparked when the Chinese survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 entered the area on July 3 to carry out a mapping mission. The ship was escorted by several Chinese coast guard vessels and maritime militia ships, as well as dozens of merchant marine vessels, including those believed to belong to some of its state-owned energy giants, including the China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) and the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC).
 

Vietnamese people protest China's deployment of Haiyang 981 in South China Sea in 2014. Ilustrative photo

The Chinese coast guard vessels were recently spotted near Vietnam's Block 06.1 off the Vanguard Bank, where Japan’s Hakuryu 5 oil rig started drilling operations on May 12 under a contract with the Rosneft Vietnam B.V. 

After the reports, the Vietnams Foreign Ministry said on July 16 the country will resolutely “fight violations” in its sea areas.

In 2014, Beijing deployed oil rig Haiyang 981 near Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands. The Chinese violation sparked protests across Vietnam.