Vietnam requested China to cancel its oil drilling plan and promptly remove its Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig out of the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin whose delineation is under negotiation, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh.

Lighthouse built by China on Xubi Reef (Source: xinhua)

He made the statement in reply to reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s reaction to China’s sending of the Haiyang Shiyou 981 rig to operate in the waters off the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin on April 3.

According to the Spokesperson, the rig was located at 17 degrees 3 minutes 12 seconds north latitude and 110 degrees 4 minutes 18 seconds east longitude, on April 3. The demarcation of this area is being negotiated by Vietnam and China .

“Vietnam demands China not repeat such unilateral actions that complicate the situation and make pragmatic contributions to peace and stability in the East Sea,” Binh said.

“Vietnam maintains and protects all of its legitimate rights and interests to the above-mentioned area through peaceful measures in tune with internal law,” he affirmed.

On April 5, a Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative met and handed a diplomatic note to the Hanoi-based Chinese Embassy’s representative to protest against China’s act.

Also on April 7, Binh extended Vietnam’s response to China witching on a lighthouse on Xubi (Subi) Reef of Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

“Vietnam requests China to immediately stop its violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty in Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagoes, seriously observe international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and take no more actions complicating the situation in the East Sea,” he said.

“Vietnam, once again, affirmed that the country has full legal foundations and historical evidence proving its indisputable sovereignty over the two archipelagoes,” he noted.

The diplomat said China’s aforementioned act has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago. And it is illegal and void.

The same day, a Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative met and handed a diplomatic note to a Chinese Embassy representative to object to the deed.

VNA