(VOVworld)- China’s illegal placement of oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf has caused increasing tensions in the East Sea and violated the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In a note that Vietnam proposed the UN to circulate as an official document, Vietnam strongly protests China’s illegal actions and demands China withdraw its oil rig from Vietnam’s waters. Vietnam’s resolution to the issue has been supported by the international community.
On May 2, 2014, China deployed oil rig Haiyang 981 and positioned the rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. On May 29, the rig was moved to the position of 15 degrees 33 minutes 38 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 62 seconds east latitude. All these positions are deep within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and from 130 to 150 nautical miles from the Vietnamese coast. Since then, China has maintained is oil rig and deployed a large number of escort ships which rammed and damaged Vietnamese law enforcement ships. Chinese ships sank a Vietnamese fishing vessel and arrested Vietnamese fishermen who were fishing in their traditional fishing grounds within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Vietnamese marine police enforces law at the location where China illegally placed oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam's waters |
Vietnam exerts efforts and shows goodwill to ease tensions in the East Sea
Chinese ships have several times impinged Vietnam’s penetrated Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and conducted 2D and 3D seismic surveys since 2005. During these occasions, Vietnam sent civil law enforcement ships demanding China stop its activities in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. Vietnam has also conducted diplomatic contacts, and sent diplomatic notes strongly denouncing China’s illegal actions. They included a series of meetings between a Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and the Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam. On August 5, 2010 and August 8 2011, the spokesperson for the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry protested and demanded China end and not repeat violations of Vietnam’s sovereign right and jurisdictions in the East Sea. Since early May this year, Vietnam has held dialogues with China at various levels toward negotiations in line with the UN Charter, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and other bilateral agreements. Vietnam has conducted more than 30 diplomatic dialogues relevant Chinese agencies including the recent meeting between Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Chinese State Councillor Jang Yiechi in Hanoi on June 18, 2014. However, China has neither withdrawn its oil rig nor agreed to negotiate. This demonstrates China’s vague legitimacy and poor evidence to justify its provocative acts to monopolize the East Sea.
Vietnam and the world demand China respect international law
In a note that Vietnam proposed the UN to circulate as an official document, Vietnam demanded China respect Vietnam’s rights identified by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law and immediately stop its violations of Vietnam’s sovereign right and jurisdiction.
The world community has strongly denounced China’s violations of international law. Last week, the US Senate adopted a Resolution condemning China’s provocations in the East Sea and East China Sea and calling on China to withdraw oil rig Haiyang 981 and escort ships and return to the status quo in the East Sea before May 1, 2014.
The resolution underscores that China’s territorial claims and associated maritime actions in support of the drilling activity that Haiyang 981 commenced on May 1, 2014 have not been clarified under international law including as defined by the UNCLOS and constitute a unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force, and appear to be in violation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, to which China is a signatory. The Francophone Parliamentary Assembly released a Resolution on hot spots in French-speaking countries expressing its concern over current tensions in the East Sea due to China’s placement of oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The Assembly backs efforts by Vietnam and other countries to restore peace and stability in the region and asked China to contribute to comprehensively resolving current tensions, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and quickly sign the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.