Dear friends,
On May 2, China placed its deep sea drilling rig HD-981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf. China has since sent approximately 80 ships, including sev…en military vessels, along with aircraft to support the rig.
Many Chinese ships, including military vessels, escorting the rig have repeatedly attacked Vietnamese ships in the area, causing heavy material damage and threatening human life. On May 11, China also used air fighters to threaten Vietnamese Coast Guard’s patrol boats and fishery boats.
Anti-China protesters march while shouting slogans during a rally in downtown Saigon on May 11, 2014. Protesters staged one of Vietnam’s largest ever anti-China demonstrations decrying Beijing’s deployment of a deep-water drilling rig in contested waters as territorial tensions soar. (Photo LE QUANG NHAT/AFP/Getty Images)
This is a blatant violation of economic interests, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of Vietnam under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, of which China itself is a member, the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed by ASEAN member states and China.
China is stepping up the implementation of its strategy to impose full control of the South China Sea (other name Vietnamese East Sea), realizing its claim of “9-dash line” which has been strongly criticized by international community.
This action is a manifestation of its stance to reaffirm China’s illegal sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly archipelagos they have occupied by force from Vietnam sine 1974 and 1988.
Vietnam has voiced its protest diplomatically. However this is not enough. Exclusive economic zone of every country has been recognized by international law and Vietnam should take more specific, practical, and effective measures to deal with China’s bullying tactics.
We need to further pressure China, sending an official message to the Chinese government. We also need to mobilize international public opinion, calling on international law experts, political analysts to join concerted efforts to question the legality of Chinese moves.
Only a strong opposition of international opinion could force China to think twice before advancing its adventurous actions.
Thanks for your listening and support!
The letter posted is from the Facebook page of Ngo Nham.
