(VOVworld) – The Vietnam War Veterans’ Association (VWVA) and the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) on Tuesday issued statements expressing their anger over China’s illegal deployment of drilling rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

People carried flags and slogans to oppose China’s actions. (Photo: Quy Doan)

In its statement, the association said China’s actions defy international law and violate Vietnam’s sovereignty and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to which China is a signatory, and also run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between China and ASEAN, causing instability and threatening the freedom of maritime trade in the East Sea. The statement said that China’s actions go against the joint statements of the two countries’ leaders, damaging the friendly neighbor relations between the two peoples.  The Association asked China to immediately halt its illegal acts, withdraw its rig and escort ships from Vietnamese waters, and refrain from such acts in the future. 

The Vietnam Women’s Union statement voiced discontent with China’s wrongful and dangerous actions and called on women all over the world, including women in China, to demand that the Chinese government abide by international law and immediately withdraw its rig and escort ships from Vietnamese waters. 

In the face of China’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, the Vietnam-China Friendship Association of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations has sent an urgent telegram to the China-Vietnam Friendship Association. The telegram stated that Chinese ships had intentionally collided with Vietnam’s law enforcement ships in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. The Association proposed its Chinese counterpart adopt a responsible voice and ask the relevant Chinese authorities to take appropriate and peaceful solutions and negotiate to realize the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China. The Association asked Chinese forces to stop provocative acts, withdraw the oil rig and not to complicate the situation.

In Hanoi on Wednesday, The Vietnam Fisheries Association (VFA) held a meeting in Hanoi to protest China’s violation of Vietnam’s sovereign sea and islands and asked China to immediately curtail its disruptive activities in Vietnam’s waters. The Vietnam Fisheries Association and fishermen, and Vietnamese people in general want to maintain and develop friendship between Vietnam and China, in the long-term interest of the two peoples and for regional peace and prosperity.

On the same day, Ho Chi Minh City’s Peace Committee and the Fund for Peace and Development released a statement citing its support for the Vietnamese State’s stance. The letter dated May 10, 2014 from the Vietnam Peace Committee and Fund For Peace and Development to China People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament strongly opposed China’s illegal acts in the East Sea. The statement demanded China withdraw oil rig Haiyang 981 from Vietnam’s sea, called on Chinese people’s organizations  and intellectuals to take action for peace, friendship and development and contribute to reducing the current tensions in the East Sea.

The Executive Board of the Vietnamese Association in Angola released a statement asserting that China’s actions in the East Sea violated agreements signed by the two countries’ leaders and negatively impacted the friendship between Vietnam and China.

The Mongolia-Vietnam Friendship Association also stated that China’s unilateral actions in the East Sea brazenly violated international law and threatened Vietnam’s sovereignty and regional security. China’s escalating actions against Vietnam in the East Sea have alarmed many of China’s neighboring countries.