Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has confirmed that Vietnam will carry on its diplomatic efforts and peaceful measures to defend its sovereignty.

Vietnam should definitely struggle and demand China to immediately withdraw its giant drilling rig Ocean-981 and escort flotilla from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, he said.

Minh made the statement in an interview granted to the media on the sidelines of the ongoing National Assembly session in Hanoi on May 20.

According to the Deputy PM, Vietnam pursues the settlement of the current territorial tensions in the East Sea with China through diplomatic channels, considering it a major peaceful measure.

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh (in the middle) discussing East Sea situation with PM Nguyen Tan Dung on the sidelines of the current National Assembly session

“We have got in a total of 20 contacts with the Chinese side, asking them to remove its rig and escort vessels from Vietnam’s territorial waters,” he said.

However, China has yet to respond to Vietnam’s legitimate request. It even increased the number of vessels to protect the rig.

Minh recalled Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s speech at the opening session of the recent 25th ASEAN Summit in Myanmar, and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s May 20 speech at the current National Assembly, clarifying Vietnam’s stance of defending national sovereignty through peaceful means in line with international law.

 He took the occasion to refute sources that say China would end several agreements with Vietnam.

“There has been no termination of any agreement between Vietnam and China, because our developing relationship is of between the two countries and two peoples, hence we must continue to develop this relationship,” said Minh. “On the other hand, we must continue our struggle to defend national sovereignty through peaceful measures.”

The Deputy PM admitted that the struggle in the East Sea is getting more complicated and that the tensions would be discussed at the World Economic Forum on East Asia in the Philippines if they affect economic affairs of the forum’s member states.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the forum on May 21-22.

VOV/VNN