HCM City’s External Relations Department on May 12 called in a representative of the Chinese Consulate General to protest against China’s unilateral deployment of its drilling rig Ocean-981 and escort vessels in Vietnam’s territorial waters.

Vietnam News Agency reported that HCM City authorities described China’s move as illegal, saying it runs counter to international law and seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, its sovereign right and jurisdiction over the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The move also negatively affects political trust and cooperation between the two countries and hurts the sentiments of Vietnamese people, including HCM City residents.

The leader of the department stressed Vietnam has sufficient legal and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, and it will take appropriate, necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.

Vietnam shows its goodwill towards settling disputes through negotiations, dialogues and other peaceful means in accordance with the perceptions of the two countries’ senior leaders, the Vietnam-China agreement guiding the settlement of marine-related issues, and in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Over the past few days, people from all social strata in HCM City have expressed their strong opposition to China’s violation of Vietnamese territory and demanded China immediately withdraw its drilling rig from Vietnam’s territorial waters.

VNN/VOV