The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation sent a diplomatic note to the Vietnamese Embassy expressing their deep concern over recent developments and incidents in the East Sea, said the embassy’s Political Counsellor Tran Van Thong on June 13.

Chinese vessels are operating illegally in Vietnam's waters (Photo: VNA)

The document was sent in response to the latter’s diplomatic note announcing the East Sea situation, which has worsened since China illegally positioned the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in early May.

In its note, Cambodia said that as the country that initiated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), it puts stress on the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in these waters.

Cambodia supports all concerned parties to fully and effectively realise the DOC, including political and legal factors, to settle peacefully East Sea disputes, it said.

The note added that Cambodia believes relevant sides will exert every effort to complete a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea so as to create an environment favouring regional peace, security and stability.

The same day, the Office of the Cambodian Council of Ministers also sent a diplomatic note to the Vietnamese Embassy with the same content.

At the beginning of May, China illegally stationed its rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, 80 miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

It also dispatched a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft to Vietnam’s waters.

On May 26, Chinese ships sank a fishing boat belonging to Da Nang fishermen operating in the traditional fishing grounds near Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago.

Between May 3 and June 5, Chinese ships intentionally rammed and fired water cannons at Vietnamese vessels, injuring 12 fisheries surveillance officers and damaging 24 Vietnamese law enforcement ships, including five coast guard and 19 fisheries surveillance ones.