The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on May 14 voiced itsstrong protest against China’s illegal placement of a drilling rig inthe continental shelf of Vietnam.
The VCCI, the representativefor the Vietnamese business community, described the act as intentionalviolations of Vietnam’s sovereignty, directly damaging the country’simportant political and economic interests as well as maritime securityand trade in the region.
The organisation demanded China respectinternational law and its related commitments, immediately stop illegalactivities and withdraw rig Haiyan Shiyou-981 and its vessels fromVietnam’s waters without delay, and absolutely not take similar acts inthe exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam.
TheVCCI called on the Vietnamese business circle to take substantialactions to support Vietnamese concerned forces and fishermen, who aredetermined to maintain their missions to safeguard the country’ssovereignty and legitimate interests in the East Sea.
It alsoasked the Chinese business circle and the international businesscommunity to raise their voice to urge the Chinese government to actwith responsibility to ensure stability, security and normal operationsof maritime activities and trade in the region.
On May 2, Chinastationed the rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location is 80nautical miles deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and 119nautical miles from Vietnam’s Ly Son Island.
China has so fardeployed a large number of vessels of various kinds to the area,including military, coast guard, marine surveillance, marine patrol andfishing ships.
Chinese ships repeatedlyrammed and fired water cannons into Vietnamese coast guard ships duringtheir law enforcement missions in the country’s waters, damaging manyVietnamese ships and leaving nine fisheries surveillance officersinjured.-VNA