China illegally maintains large fleet of ships in VN's waters

VGP – China still maintained a large fleet of ships to block and prevent the Vietnamese law enforcement vessels from approaching the illicit oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981, the Vietnamese Fisheries Surveillance Department reported on Tuesday.

July 01, 2014 7:40 PM GMT+7

Chinese ships are encircling and ramming the Vietnamese law enforcement force vessels - Photo: VIet Nam Coast Guard

Specifically, China deployed around 114-120 ships of all kinds, including five military ones, to guard the rig illegally installed in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone since early May.

Meanwhile, China dispatched some 34 fishing boats supported by two coast guard ships tried to stop Vietnamese fishing boats from fishing in the traditional grounds near the drilling rig.

Despite China’s aggression, the Vietnamese fisheries surveillance force has stayed at the site and continued communication activities to demand China immediately withdraw the rig as well as escort ships from Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, the Department said.

It has been nearly two months since China illegally placed the oil rig and escort ships deep inside Viet Nam’s waters, China has kept on escalating tension by encircling, chasing, ramming and firing water cannons at Vietnamese law enforcement forces and fishing boats. More seriously, China sank a Vietnamese fishing boat with ten persons on board on May 26.

China’s preserve acts in the East Viet Nam Sea have been strongly condemned by the international community but China has ignored all./.

By Quang Trung