According to the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department, on July 15, China maintained 70-75 vessels of various kinds around the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 it is illegally placing in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The vessels, including warships, lined up, sped towards Vietnamese ships as close as 100-300 meters, and blasted sirens to impede the Vietnamese vessels from accessing the rig at a distance of about 10-11 nautical miles for communication works.

At a fishing ground which is 34-39 nautical miles from the oil platform, a Chinese coast guard ship coded 31101 frequently followed and hindered Vietnamese fishing ships.

The Vietnamese fisheries surveillance and coast guard forces avoided the China’s harassment and ensured safety for the fishing vessels to maintain their normal activities in Vietnam’s waters.

They also persistently demanded China to withdraw its oil rig from Vietnam’s waters.

All necessary preparations are being made to ensure safety for fishermen as tropical storm Rammasun is approaching the East Sea.

The storm has affected the Vietnamese vessels carrying out law enforcement missions on the site of China’s oil rig.

In early May, China illegally dispatched the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft to Vietnam’s waters and positioned the rig 80 miles deep into Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

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 waters.-VNA