Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA), Thuan Huu on May 10 sent a letter to his Chinese counterpart to express his deep concern over the escalating tension in the East Sea as a result of China’s placement of an oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, escorted by military vessels.

The move has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and gone against international law and practice, hurting the two peoples and negatively affecting bilateral political trust and cooperation, Huu noted.

The VJA resolutely protests this infringement and demands that the Chinese side immediately remove its oil rig and vessels from Vietnam’s waters and never repeat such actions again.

The All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) and the Chinese press should be fully aware of the legitimate interests and legal stance of Vietnam in the current East Sea dispute in order to protect peace and stability, VJA chairman has stated.

Huu’s letter said that Vietnam and China’s friendship and cooperation must serve the basic interests of the two peoples in the long run and aid regional and global peace, stability and development.

Both sides should respect international laws, especially 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) agreed between China and ASEAN, and the agreements between the two leaders.

The VJA underscored efforts by the Vietnamese Government to protect its legal sovereignty through peaceful measures, including its calls to hold dialogues with China to settle the issue.-VNA