China on June 9 continued perverting international law by sending two more military ships to the area around rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 that is illegally placed in Vietnam’s waters.

China maintains six warships in Vietnam's waters to defend the illegal oil rig. Photo: VNA

Chinese warships patrolling the site during the day increased to six, with two operating in the east, two in the west and the others taking defensive positions to the south of the rig, reported the department.

At the same time, about 36 coast guard vessels, 21 cargo ships and tugboats and 44 fishing vessels were also detected, together with one Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft flying about 300-500m above the rig, stated the department.

Chinese fishing vessels, accompanied by two coast guard ships, continued to show their aggression by circling and ramming Vietnamese fishing boats conducting their normal catching activities in their traditional fishing grounds in Vietnam’s waters about 38-40 nautical miles from the rig, it said.

The Chinese fleet formed groups and organised circles around the rig to prevent Vietnamese law enforcement vessels from approaching, keeping them about 11 nautical miles from the rig.

They also aggressively rammed and fired water cannons at Vietnamese coast guard and fishing vessels, said the department.

However, Vietnamese law enforcement authorities resolutely maintained their intensive activities close to the rig to demand China stop their illegal actions and remove the oil rig immediately from Vietnam ’s waters, according to the department.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese fishermen continued their work despite China ’s intimidation, it said.

At the beginning of May 2014, China illegally dispatched the rig as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft to Vietnam’s waters and positioned it 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.

On May 27, China expanded the rig’s operation by moving it to 15 degrees 33 minutes 22 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 in Vietnam minutes 36 seconds east longitude, 25 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island’s Hoang Sa archipelago and 23 nautical miles east-northeast from the old location.

On June 3, the oil rig moved yet again to another new position, at 15 degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 11 seconds east longitude. The new position is still completely within Vietnam ’s continental shelf.