China’s ships continue bullying Vietnam's law enforcement forces

PANO – On May 12^th, China’s ships and aircraft protecting its 981 oil rig illegally positioned deep in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone continued to prevent Vietnam's law enforcement forces from approaching the rig.

Chinese ships kept firing water cannon at Vietnamese vessels. However, troops of Vietnam's law enforcement forces remain restrained while being determined to protect the national sovereignty at sea.

People across the nation have been extremely indignant at China’s illegal placement of its rig and provocative acts in Vietnam’s waters, and believed that the Vietnam’s Party and State would hammer out suitable measures to deal with the problem.

In spite of not having a chance to visit Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos, Siu Qui from Ia Nam commune, Duc Co district, Gia Lai province, said that he and other local people had always turned their hearts to the islands and kept following the situation and demanded China to remove the rig out of Vietnam territorial waters and end its acts in violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty.

Fishermen showed their determination to protect national sovereign over sea and islands.

“Ethnic minority groups in Central Highlands completely trust in the leadership of the Party and State and strength of Vietnam in firmly protect the national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Qui.

Similarly, war veteran Pham Van Thuan from Hoang Xa commune, Thanh Thuy district, Phu Tho province, held that China’s recent acts had undermined the two countries’ relationship. Vietnamese people have been protesting against China's illegal moves in Vietnam’s waters. According to Thuan, China should respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea and islands and abide by international laws, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), for the sake of peace, cooperation and development of both countries.

Meanwhile,  Van Coi, the owner of trawler KH-91412TS in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, said local fishermen had been indignant at China’s acts and they would continuously head to the sea to catch fish and to protect the national sovereignty over sea and islands.

Phan Van Thang, Editor-in-Chief of the Nghe An Cultural Magazine, said Vietnam should sue China for its violations to the International Court and adopt more determined attitude towards this issue.