(VOVworld) – A number of countries have criticized China for the imposition of its oil rig HD-981 and its escort vessels in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, as well as for ramming Vietnamese patrol vessels, saying this has violated Vietnam’s sovereignty and escalated regional tensions.

China's drilling rig is within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone

On the same day, the Japanese media gave wide coverage to the current tensions in the East Sea, including many articles questioning the authenticity of information released by China at Thursday press conference in Beijing. Japan’s Jiji news agency reported that China could not provide clear evidence such as photos of collisions between Chinese and Vietnamese vessels as provided by Vietnam, and China evaded mentioning the specific number of vessels it has deployed to the scene.

A Vietnamese vessel damaged by Chinese ships

Similarly, the Kyodo News agency questioned China’s stance as China could not provide photographic evidence at the press conference. Meanwhile, the Tokyo daily newspaper reported the oil rig HD-981 was put into operation in 2012 and the Chinese oil and gas company’s declaration that it has been carrying out exploratory oil drilling in the area for the past 10 years was not persuasive.

In its Friday edition, the Sankei daily newspaper ran an editorial entitled “China and the East Sea: is power used to change the actual state?”, saying that it’s unacceptable to use power to change the status quo.” The editorial attributed the escalating tensions to the unrealized Code of Conduct in the East Sea because of China’s negative attitude.

A spokesperson for the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said on Friday that “EU is especially concerned over unilateral acts that could adversely affect regional security. The Union urges related parties to seek peaceful solutions in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, while guaranteeing maritime safety. The EU calls on all sides to implement measures to ease escalating tensions and refrain any unilateral acts that could harm regional peace and stability.”

The US State Department on Friday voiced its deep concern over China’s actions in the East Sea, saying the current tension was caused by China. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf  spoke at an interview at the Press Center in Washington: "Chinese behaviors to advance its claims over territory really threatened the stability in the region. The reason we care about it because we believe that peace and stability in the region are important. And we believe that this should be resolved in a peaceful manner. Attempt like this to change the balance on the ground outside the international law is what we believe that threatens the stability."

US State vice spokeswoman Marie Harf

The Vietnam-Italy Friendship Association also voiced its opposition to China’s oil rig being placed in Vietnam’s territorial waters, saying it has seriously violated international law. The association pledged to regularly update information related to the situation in the East Sea in its Mekong publication and website, together with analysis and historical materials proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos to help Italian people better understand the issue.

The world community warned of new tensions in the East Sea as China continued to send armed vessels to the area where the oil rig anchored on Thursday, saying that China must take full responsibility for these unilateral acts.