Chinese ships on June 12 continued to encircle and cut off Vietnamese Fisheries Surveillance vessels and then retreat in order to photograph and film misleading footage aimed to make it look like they were being rammed by Vietnamese ships.

According to the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance Department, throughout the day, China maintained the presence of a large number of coast guard vessels, cargo ships, tugboats and warships around the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981, which is illegally stationed in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

About 35 fishing ships from China, backed by its coast guard vessels, kept interrupting and driving away Vietnamese fishing boats which were operating normally in Vietnam ’s traditional fishing grounds about 40 nautical miles from the rig.

Meanwhile, forming circles about 7 – 8 and 9 – 11 nautical miles from the rig, China’s coast guard and cargo ships gathered together and aggressively prevented Vietnamese ships from approaching.

Despite China ’s aggressive acts, with water cannons and ramming always threatened, Vietnam’s Fisheries Surveillance and fishing ships persistently stayed at the area to continue their duties and normal activities.

At the beginning of May, China illegally dispatched the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft to Vietnam’s waters and positioned it at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, 80 miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

On May 26, Chinese ships sank a fishing boat belonging to Da Nang fishermen operating in the traditional fishing grounds near Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago.

On June 1, Chinese ships seriously damaged ship 2016 of the Vietnam Coast Guard, causing holes on its side.

On June 7, Chinese ships deliberately rammed into Vietnam ’s fisheries surveillance ship KN-635, causing more damage.