China continues violating Vietnam's sovereignty by placing its oil rig in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Photo: VNA
The Note, dated June 4, quoted the competent agencies of Vietnam and the announcement of Chinese Maritime Safety Administration, as saying that on May 27, 2014, the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 was moved to the location at 15-33.38N/111-34.62E, which is entirely within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam. The operation of China’s oil rig and its escorting ships constitutes a continued serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as defined in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China’s action also violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, the Vietnam - China Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues and other relevant agreements between high-level leaders of the two countries, gravely undermining the political trust between the two countries. Vietnam resolutely protests against China’s illegal action.
It further said in the past days, in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and other agreements between the two countries, Vietnam has made every effort to communicate and conduct dialogue with China under various forms and at various levels to demand China immediately terminate acts that infringe upon Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, create conditions for immediate commencement of discussions between the two sides on measures to stabilise the situation and control the maritime issues between the two countries. China has not only failed to respond to Vietnam’s goodwill, but also arbitrarily moved the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 and escorting ships to another location well within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam, continued to dispatch more military ships, such as fast attack crafts, missile-armed frigates, amphibious transport docks and fighter jets to the area where the oil rig is operating. More seriously, Chinese ships rammed and sank Vietnamese fishing boat DNa 90152 TS with 10 fishermen on board fishing in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam, and rammed and broke the Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel CSB 2016 on duty in the Vietnamese waters. These actions by China have aggravated tensions in the East Sea, seriously threatened peace, stability, freedom of navigation and maritime security and safety in the region, causing concern in the international community, fueling discontent among the Vietnamese people and adversely affecting the good friendship and the long-standing, traditional ties between the two countries’ Parties, governments and peoples.
"Once again, Vietnam seriously demands that China respect international law, immediately terminate all activities that violate Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, withdraw the oil rig, ships and all other related vehicles from Vietnam’s waters and desist from similar actions in the future. Vietnam also solemnly requests China to resolve all maritime disputes as well as those concerning China’s illegal deployment of the oil rig in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam, through negotiations or other peaceful means in conformity with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," the Note concluded.
Ambassador Trung asked the UN Secretary General to circulate the Note as an official document of the 68th session of the General Assembly under agenda item 76 entitled "Ocean and the law of the sea".
This is the third Note the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry has sent to its Chinese partner in opposition to China's perverse acts in the East Sea.-VNA
It further said in the past days, in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and other agreements between the two countries, Vietnam has made every effort to communicate and conduct dialogue with China under various forms and at various levels to demand China immediately terminate acts that infringe upon Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, create conditions for immediate commencement of discussions between the two sides on measures to stabilise the situation and control the maritime issues between the two countries. China has not only failed to respond to Vietnam’s goodwill, but also arbitrarily moved the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 and escorting ships to another location well within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam, continued to dispatch more military ships, such as fast attack crafts, missile-armed frigates, amphibious transport docks and fighter jets to the area where the oil rig is operating. More seriously, Chinese ships rammed and sank Vietnamese fishing boat DNa 90152 TS with 10 fishermen on board fishing in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam, and rammed and broke the Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel CSB 2016 on duty in the Vietnamese waters. These actions by China have aggravated tensions in the East Sea, seriously threatened peace, stability, freedom of navigation and maritime security and safety in the region, causing concern in the international community, fueling discontent among the Vietnamese people and adversely affecting the good friendship and the long-standing, traditional ties between the two countries’ Parties, governments and peoples.
"Once again, Vietnam seriously demands that China respect international law, immediately terminate all activities that violate Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, withdraw the oil rig, ships and all other related vehicles from Vietnam’s waters and desist from similar actions in the future. Vietnam also solemnly requests China to resolve all maritime disputes as well as those concerning China’s illegal deployment of the oil rig in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam, through negotiations or other peaceful means in conformity with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," the Note concluded.
Ambassador Trung asked the UN Secretary General to circulate the Note as an official document of the 68th session of the General Assembly under agenda item 76 entitled "Ocean and the law of the sea".
This is the third Note the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry has sent to its Chinese partner in opposition to China's perverse acts in the East Sea.-VNA
