(VOVworld) – Overseas Vietnamese in Lao’s northern provinces on Tuesday held meetings to protest China’s illegal placement of Haiyang 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone in the East Sea. 

Vietnamese community in Laos' northern provinces attend the meeting

They expressed their support for the Vietnamese government’s response to the issue. Chu Ba Oanh is Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Luang Prabang province:"Vietnamese people in Luang Prabang strongly condemn China’s illegal actions and demand China withdraw its oil rig, escort ships, and aircraft from Vietnam’s waters and exclusive economic zone and stop increasing tensions that threaten the peace and security in the East Sea."

The Overseas Vietnamese association in Cuba on Monday sent a letter to the Vietnam Fatherland Front to protest China’s illegal actions. The letter, which was signed by the association’s president Mai Thao, stressed that China’s actions ran counter to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between the two nations. The association requested China withdraw its oil rig from Vietnam’s territory, expressed their belief in the Vietnamese government’s correct policies which reflect Vietnamese people’s peace-loving spirit but also strong determination to protect national sovereignty.