Print article

VN demands China withdraw from continental shelf

VGP – Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh on Tuesday made a phone call to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi after China illegally deployed a drilling rig and vessels in the oil and gas lot 143 belonging to Viet Nam’s continental shelf since May 1.

May 07, 2014 4:13 PM GMT+7

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh: Photo: VGP

Deputy PM, FM Minh stressed that China’s unilateral deployment of the drilling rig HD-981 and a large number of vessels, even military ones, in this area is illegal, runs counter to the international law and practices, seriously violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago and sovereign right and jurisdiction over Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

This act negatively impacts mutual political trust and cooperation aspects between the two countries and hurts the Vietnamese people’s sentiment.

Viet Nam cannot accept and resolutely protests the China’s act and demands China totally withdraw the drilling rig HD-981 as well as escort vessels from this area, together with Viet Nam to join talks to handle the related differences.

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Viet Nam has full legal and historical grounds to prove its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos as well as sovereign right and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Viet Nam will take all the proper and necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.

At the same time, Viet Nam always shows its good will, sticks to satisfactory resolution of divergences through negotiations, dialogues and other peaceful measures in accordance with the common awareness of the high-ranking leaders of the two countries, the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related isues, in accordance with regulations and practices of the international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in order not to let this issue damage the mutual political trust and cooperation between the two sides.

Earlier on May 4, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ho Xuan Son also made a phone call to his Chinese counterpart Liu Zhen Min to discuss about the incident.

The same day, representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Ha Noi to hand over Viet Nam’s diplomatic note to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the diplomatic note, the operation of the drilling rig HD-981 and vessels seriously violates the sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction of Viet Nam over the Hoang Sa archipelago, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as well as agreements reached between the two countries’ leaders. It also runs counter to the spirit and words of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, relevant regulations of the international law. Viet Nam demands China immediately withdraw the above drilling rig as well as relevant vessels, equipment and personnel out of the lot 143 in Viet Nam’s continental shelf and not to repeat the same act.

The diplomatic note also reiterates that Viet Nam attaches importance to the friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, stands ready, through bilateral negotiation mechanisms, to peacefully settle all sea-related disputes and divergences between the two countries on the basis of international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Viet Nam and China./.

By Hai Minh

>>> VN protests China’s illegal drilling rig in its waters