About 250 overseas Vietnamese in Bulgaria gathered at a meeting on May 13 to protest China ’s illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig in Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

In a statement released recently, the Association of Vietnamese People in Bulgaria also condemned China ’s serious violation of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

China ’s move directly threatens peace, stability, maritime security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea , said the statement.

The Vietnamese community in Bulgaria strongly opposes China ’s provocative act and demands China remove the drilling rig as well as all of its ships out of Vietnam ’s waters, the statement declared.

The overseas Vietnamese also called on China to sit down for negotiations on ways to settle differences on the issues, while voicing support to the Vietnamese Government in taking all necessary measures to protect the national legitimate rights and interests.

They also lauded Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s speech at the 24 th ASEAN Summit, as well as the Statement of the Summit Chair, which urged all parties to fully and effectively implement the DOC and practice restraint without using or threatening to use force.

They also underscored the need to form a Code of Conduct in the East Sea at an early date, while highlighting the significance of ASEAN foreign ministers’ statement on the current situation in the East Sea .

The association also called on individuals, international organisations and peace-loving people around the world to continue raising their voices against China ’s illegal act.

Representatives of many other Vietnamese associations in Bulgaria also made clear their strong protest against China ’s move.

The same day, Chairman of the Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Association Simon Dimchev also met and handed over to Vietnamese Ambassador Le Duc Luu a written statement protesting China ’s violation of Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

As a traditional friend of Vietnam , Bulgaria will raise its voice in the international arena to protect justice, international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, while calling on China to work with Vietnam to settle all disputes through peaceful dialogues, contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

On May 2, China stationed the rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, 80 nautical miles deep inside Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone.

It also deployed a large number of aircraft and ships of various kinds to the area, including military, coast guard, marine surveillance, marine patrol and fisheries vessels.

Chinese ships have repeatedly rammed and fired water cannons against Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance boats which are carrying out their law enforcement missions in the country’s waters, leaving many Vietnamese ships damaged and nine fisheries surveillance officers injured.-VNA