In response to China’s illegal positioning of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, the Liaison Association for Overseas Vietnamese has issued a statement, unyieldingly protesting China’s behaviour.

The statement said that China’s action is extremely dangerous, gravely violating the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea to which China is a signatory. It also runs counter to bilateral agreements reached by the two countries’ high-level officials and threatens maritime security and safety in the East Sea.

Sharing the same viewpoint with compatriots at home and abroad, the association vehemently denounces acts of infringement, demanding China remove its rig and armed ships and aircraft out of Vietnam’s waters as well as respect bilateral and multilateral agreements on the East Sea.

It also called on the Vietnamese communities worldwide to join hands to prevent China’s expansionism and canvass international public to support Vietnam’s just cause.

Since the beginning of May, Vietnam has exercised utmost restraint, shown every gesture of goodwill and exhausted all dialogue channels to communicate with the Chinese authorities of different levels for expressing protest and demanding China to immediately withdraw its drilling rig and vessels from Vietnam’s waters.

Nevertheless, up to now, China has failed to respond to Vietnam ’s legitimate demand. On the contrary, It has been slandering and blaming Vietnam while continuing to escalate the use of force and acts of violation in an increasingly dangerous and serious manner.-VNA