On 2nd May 2014, China placed the HD-981 drilling rig in the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Viet Nam, 120 nautical miles from the Vietnamese coast.

At the same time, China deployed more than 80 ships, including many military vessels, and aircraft to threaten the law enforcement forces of Viet Nam.

Chinese ships also intentionally rammed Vietnamese ships, causing property damage and injuring several fishery control officers of Viet Nam.

This constitutes a gross violation committed by China of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Viet Nam, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the sea, and the Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed between China and ASEAN countries in 2002. It also runs counter to the commitments stated many times by leaders of the two countries.

In the past few days, the Vietnam Women’s Union and the entire body of Vietnamese women have been strongly discontented with such wrongful and dangerous actions of China, which has seriously hurt the friendship between the two peoples, especially women of China and Vietnam, as well as the trust forged by the two sides.

More than anyone, women understand and treasure the value of peace. In case of conflicts and war, women of the two countries suffer the most.

On that note, the Vietnam Women’s Union urges all international partners and women around the world, including Chinese women, to raise voices for peace and justice, requesting the Chinese government observe international laws and immediately withdraw the drilling rig and its escorting vessels from Vietnamese waters.

The Vietnam Women’s Union and the entire body of Vietnamese women will do our best to nurture international solidarity and friendship, contributing to the goals of Equality, Development and Peace established at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.