VietNamNet Bridge – China has been engaging increasingly in impudent behavior in recent days as it continues to argue in favor of its aggressive acts in the East Sea.

Chinese ship fired Vietnamese boat with water cannons

The Washington Post on June 9 reported that China took its dispute with Vietnam over the former’s deployment of an oil rig in contested waters to the United Nations, accusing Vietnam of infringing on its sovereignty and illegally disrupting a Chinese company’s drilling operation.

According to the newspaper’s report, China’s deputy ambassador Wang Min sent a “position paper” on the operation of HD 981, a Chinese drilling rig, to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and asked him to circulate it to the 193 members of the UN General Assembly.

In documents filed to the UN, China stated that CNOOC, the Chinese oil and gas group, has been carrying out geological exploration activities over the last 10 years in the area, and that the HD 981 is just carrying out another exploration campaign in Chinese waters.

China accused Vietnam of using illegal and provocative measures and sending armed ships to the site to hinder the operation of the Chinese oil rig.

The report includes accusations by China that Vietnam had sent frogmen and dropped objects in the sea to block the operation of Chinese ships.

Beijing has also said that Vietnam has caused a “big threat” to the workers on the oil rig and that Vietnam has violated international laws.

However, foreign reporters should know that, if they were physically here, they could see with their own eyes what is happening in the East Sea: Chinese ships are targeting Vietnamese fishing boats.

It is China, which has sent 100 ships, including military ships, to the site, reasoning that it needs to protect the oil rig.

In the newspaper report, China attempts to defend its illegal placement of the oil rig in Vietnam’s continental shelf.

China has also pointed to so-called “historical evidence” to prove that Hoang Sa is part of Chinese territory.  However, it cannot show any convincing proof as required by UNCLOS.

China also alleges that Vietnamese ships have disrupted the operation of the rig and rammed into Chinese vessels 1,416 times.

However, China does not focus on the barbaric act that China committed when it intentionally sank a Vietnamese fishing boat on May 26, leaving behind fishermen in distress.

Most recently, a Chinese steel ship rammed into another fishing boat from Hai Phong City, causing serious property damage worth VND300-500 million dong.

Compiled by C. V