(VOVworld) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on Tuesday talked over the phone with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi about the drilling rig HD-981 and many Chinese vessels operating at oil and gas field 143 on Vietnam’s continental shelf from May 1^st.

Deputy Prime Minister Minh said that China unilaterally bringing the drilling rig and the presence of a large number of Chinese vessels including military boats are illegal, run contrary to international law and practices, and seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Vietnam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over its special economic zones and continental shelf. He said that the incident negatively affects the political trust and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and hurts the feelings of the Vietnamese people. Vietnam can not accept and resolutely protests China’s move and asks China to withdraw drilling rig HD-981 and all escort ships from this area and to begin negotiations to resolve differences over this issue.

Deputy Prime Minister Minh said that Vietnam will apply necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests. At the same time, Vietnam shows its good will and persistence to settle differences through negotiations, dialogue and other peaceful means in line with the common knowledge of the two countries’ senior leaders, the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues in conformity with international law and practices, including the 1982 UN Convention on the law of the sea, not allowing this issue to hinder political trust and cooperation between the two countries.

The same day, Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the Vietnamese land border negotiation delegation Ho Xuan Son held a telephone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenmin about the same issue.

A representative of Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry also met with the Chinese Charge de affairs in Hanoi to present Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic note to China’s Foreign Ministry. The document requests that China “immediately withdraw such drilling rig together with all involved vessels, equipment and personnel from oil and gas field 143 on Vietnam’s continental shelf and not to repeat any other similar act.” The note confirms that “Vietnam treasures the friendly cooperation and comprehensive strategic partnership with China and is ready to resolve all sea-related disputes and differences peacefully through bilateral negotiations based on international law.”