Vietnamese farmers hit out at China

Hanoi, June 2 (VNA) – The Vietnam Peasants’ Association on June 2 issued a statement in protest of China’s illegal placement of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. At the beginning of May, China illegally dispatched the rig, as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, to Vietnam’s waters and positioned it at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location was 80 miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. On May 27, China moved the rig to 15 degrees 33 minutes 22 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 36 seconds east longitude. The new location is 25 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago and 23 nautical miles east-northeast from the old location, still completely within Vietnam’s continental shelf. In the statement, the association condemns China’s act as a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over its continental shelf and EEZ. The act also severely infringes international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, to which China itself is a signatory, it says. Such a dangerous move has been directly jeopardising peace, stability, security and safety of navigation in the East Sea as well as the life of Vietnamese fishermen, the document reads, adding that it also runs counter to agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders and profoundly blighted the friendship between both peoples along with the trust that both sides have exerted every effort to build. The organisation vehemently opposes the act and demands China immediately withdraw the rig and vehicles completely and unconditionally from Vietnam’s waters, stop illegal and inhumane activities towards Vietnamese fishermen and prevent any recurrence. In the statement, the association also showed its strong support to the Vietnamese Government and law enforcement forces in safeguarding the country’s legitimate sovereignty peacefully and in line with international law. It further says that Vietnamese farmers always treasures fine relations between the two peoples. However, sovereignty is sacred, and the association denounced all violations and will resolutely safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and legitimate interests in accordance with international law. The association also called on their Chinese and global fellows to raise their voice requesting the Chinese government to comply with international law and respect Vietnam’s sovereignty. The Vietnam Peasants’ Association groups more than 10 million members, accounting for 70 percent of Vietnam’s population and 50 percent of the workforce. China’s armed vessels have aggressively fired high-power water cannons at and intentionally rammed against Vietnamese public-service and civil ships, causing damage to many boats and injuring many people on board. Chinese ships have continuously encircled, constrained and driven away Vietnamese fishing boats and even injured Vietnamese fishermen, threatening their lives. On May 26, Chinese ship 11209 sank a Vietnamese fishing vessel while it was operating normally in its traditional fishing ground near Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago./.