(VOVworld) – The Vietnam Bar Association held a press conference on Wednesday to protest China’s escalation of tensions in Vietnamese waters.

Association leaders answered questions and confirmed that Vietnam was persisting in resolving marine issues through peaceful means. They said that in case Vietnam filed a lawsuit, Vietnam would win because justice was on its side. The association said that China’s actions in the East Sea seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, human rights, the UN Charter, and international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The association demanded that China withdraw its oilrig from Vietnamese waters and end any acts of force or intimidation against Vietnamese citizens and law enforcement forces. It asked China to abide by international law and stop complicating the regional situation.

Association Vice President Nguyen Van Quyen said: “The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is an institution for resolving international disputes, which the Philippines had filed its suit to. Vietnam is a member of the PCA and if necessary we could bring the issue to this court.”

This was the third time that the Vietnam Bar Association issued a statement protesting China’s placing of its oilrig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.