Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Here is the May 10th, 2014 update from the Vietnam Embassy in Washington DC, USA, for your information.

Sincerely,

Hoành
__________

1. ASEAN Foreign Ministers on May 10th issued a statement pressed their serious concerns over the on-going developments in the East Sea, which have increased tensions in the area.

The Foreign Ministers urged all parties concerned, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions which could undermine peace and stability in the area; and to resolve disputes by peaceful means without resorting to threat or use of force. They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability, maritime security, freedom of navigation in and over-flight above the East Sea, as well as the ASEAN’s Six-Point Principles on the East Sea and the Joint Statement of the 15th ASEAN-China Summit on the 10th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. They also called on all parties to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) to undertake full and effective implementation of the DOC in order to create an environment of mutual trust and confidence. They emphasised the need for expeditiously working towards an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

2. On May 9th, 3 people from fishery surveillance forces of Vietnam were injured. That made the total number of Vietnamese people injured to 9.

On May 10th, China aggressively expanded its protection zone around the oil rig HD-981 from 3 up to 10 nautical miles. China’s military airplanes are detected around the oil rig, some of which are reported to be at the heights ranging from 200 to 300 meters above Vietnam vessels.

On the same day, one fishery boat of Vietnam was rammed and attacked while fishing at 16.45 North latitude, 111.20 east longitude around the Paracel Islands.

Dear brothers and sisters,

I have just received the following package of information from the Vietnam Embassy in Washington DC.  The package includes:

1. A PPT file containing photos showing Chinese vessel attacking Vietnamese patrol vessel. Please click the photo below to view PPT.

2. Fact sheet No. 2 on China’s latest illegal activities in Vietnam’s EEZ.

3. Briefing by Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff of Viet Nam Police Ngo Ngoc Thu at the Press Briefing by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

4. Briefing by Vice-Chair of Viet Nam National Boundary Commmission Tran Duy Hai.

Please help dispatch the information. Thank you very much.

Hoành

CSIS: Ernest Bower (@BowerCSIS) and Gregory Poling (@GregPoling)
May 7, 2014

Tensions between China and Vietnam over the disputed South China Sea are at their highest levels in years. On May 2, the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) placed its deep sea drilling rig HD-981 in disputed waters south of the Paracel Islands. Vietnam objected to the placement, declaring that the is located on its continental shelf. China has since sent approximately 80 ships, including seven military vessels, along with aircraft to support the rig. In response, Hanoi dispatched 29 ships to attempt to disrupt the rig’s placement and operations. Continue reading Critical Questions: China-Vietnam Tensions High over Drilling Rig in Disputed →