Defend the sovereignty

Hundreds of, Vietnamese nationals, students and international friends marched along the streets of the Swiss capital Bern, on June 21, opposing China’s escalating violations in the East Sea.

China maintained 118 ships, including six military ships, to guard its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 illegally standing in Viet Nam’s waters, according to the Viet Nam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

China deployed some 133-137 ships, up 19 from Saturday, to guard the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 illegally placed in Viet Nam’s waters since early May, according to the Fisheries Surveillance Department.

No one has the right to distort historical truths. Vietnam has full legal foundations and historical evidence asserting its possession of Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagoes from at least the 17th century, before which they did not belong to the sovereignty of any country.

Chinese military aircraft on June 20 flew at a low altitude above Vietnamese law enforcement vessels operating near the place where China illegally places its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 inside Vietnam’s waters, according to Vietnam News Agency reporters at the site.

Vietnamese ambassador Pham Xuan Son has called on the international community, including Russia, to voice their continued support for Vietnam and contribute to easing tensions in the East Sea, so as to maintain regional peace, stability and security.

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.

Sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracels) and Truong Sa (Spratlys) Islands should be determined by international law. However, the recent development in the East Sea has become especially dangerous as China’s absurd claims of sovereignty continue, despite international law and historical practice.

The Vietnamese Fisheries Surveillance Department said on Thursday that China still maintained some 115 ships of all kinds to guard the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 illegally installed in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone.

​Ambassador to Chile Ha Thi Ngoc Ha on June 11 informed Chilean congressmen of the latest developments in the East Sea, several weeks after China illegally towed its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 to Vietnam’s waters.

The Austrian National Library holds materials proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, a scholar from the University of Vienna’s Institute for East Asian Studies confirmed at a workshop in Hanoi last week.

After The Australian published an article by China’s ambassador to Australia, Ma Zhaoxu titled "Vietnam has no legitimate claim to Xisha islands," this newspaper posted an article by Mr. Luong Thanh Nghi - Vietnam`s Ambassador to Australia - against China`s groundless arguments. VietNamNet Bridge would like to introduce Mr. Nghi`s full article.

China’s oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981, illegally stationed in Vietnamese waters, was probably preparing to move to a new position on June 17 as it lowered its two cranes, according to Vietnam News Agency reporters at the site.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi will visit Vietnam this week and is expected to resolve the current tensions in the East Sea, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh said.

Viet Nam had adequate evidence to prove that its vessels had never deliberately rammed Chinese ships, as the Chinese media has claimed, in fact the truth was the other way around, said Ha Le, deputy head of the Fishing Surveillance Department yesterday.

There is growing concern about increased tension in the East Sea after China illegally placed its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone in the sea.

Viet Nam has again asked China to withdraw its drilling rig and accompanying vessels from Vietnamese waters, Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations, has said.

China’s Xinhua news agency reported that the so-called government "Sansha City" (Hainan,China) broke ground on a school project on “Yong Xing” island, which is Phu Lam island belonging to Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

The Austrian National Library holds materials proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, a scholar from the University of Vienna’s Institute for East Asian Studies confirmed at a workshop in the city.

China on Sunday still maintained the presence of around 120 ships, including six military ones around the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 placed illegally in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone since early May.