Despite a disadvantage in number, Vietnam’s fisheries surveillance members on duty at the area where China is illegally positioning rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 are determined to overcome all difficulties and do their best to firmly safeguard national sea and island sovereignty.

Phan Dinh Cat, an official of the fisheries surveillance authority, said the Chinese side has used many kinds of ships to conduct threatening and provocative acts targeting Vietnam’s fisheries surveillance vessels, such as firing water cannons and ramming, but the Vietnamese ships consistently implement the policy of using peaceful counter- measures and resolutely protect the country’s sea and island sovereignty.

“Vietnam’s law enforcement forces at sea will bravely and resolutely overcome all difficulties and fulfil all missions to firmly safeguard the fatherland’s sacred sovereignty in any situation,” Cat said.

“We are determined to protect the fatherland’s sea and island sovereignty by staying at the site and continuing with propaganda and protest measures, thus supporting the diplomatic struggle to demand China to withdraw their illegal oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters,” Vu Duc Tao, head of the Fisheries Surveillance Team 4 told a Vietnam News Agency reporter who is on board a fisheries surveillance vessel at the site.-VNA