VietNamNet Bridge - Chinese ships intentionally rammed a ship of the Vietnam Marine Police Tuesday morning, in waters within the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Vietnam.

A Vietnam's fishery boat was rammed by Chinese vessels.

At 8am on Tuesday, three vessels of the Vietnam Marine Police – 8003, 2013 and 4032 – as well as fishery boats, approached the HD-981 oil rig of China, which was recently set up illegally in Vietnamese waters. Radar images showed over 80 Chinese boats surrounding the rig.

At around 8:10am, when ship 8003 was about 8 nautical miles from the rig, several Chinese ships approached it. Over loudspeakers, the Vietnamese ship asked the Chinese to cease their illegal activities in Vietnam’s waters, but Chinese ship 3401 went around and intimidated the Vietnamese ship. Other Chinese ships used water cannons to attack the Vietnamese vessel.

At this time, vessels of the Vietnam Marine Police received orders from headquarters to move deeper into the area where China had placed its illegal rig.

At 8:25am, Vietnamese ship 4032 moved to within 5.5 nautical miles of the rig and was subsequently threatened by two Chinese boats, 7028 and 46001. The Vietnamese ship steered to avoid a collision but the two Chinese vessels intentionally crashed into the ship’s stern.

Earlier, on Sunday, boat 4032 was also attacked by water cannons from Chinese boats.

China uses nine kinds of vessels to protect its illegal oil rig

On May 13 China used up to 86 vessels, including one rocket guardian ship and a patrol submarine, to protect its illegal rig in Vietnam’s water. Vietnamese vessels kept approaching the rig, reported the Vietnam Marine Police Agency.

On Tuesday, China used nine types of ships to protect its HD-981 rig, including military vessels, marine police vessels, marine surveillance ships, naval ships, fishery administrative boats, salvage tugs, cargo ships, tankers and fishing vessels with iron shell, the agency said.

Talking to the press on Tuesday, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Oai, Head of the Fisheries Control Department, said 30 vessels of the fishery control and marine police forces of Vietnam operated in its area. About 20 fishing vessels from Vietnam was about 20 km from the HD-981 rig. Fishing boats of fishermen from the central provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Da Nang formed a line to prevent Chinese fishing vessel from encroaching on the waters of Vietnam.

"This is the major fishing ground of Vietnam," Oai stressed. He also said that the law enforcement forces of Vietnam was not surprised when Chinese ships continued to go deep into the waters of Vietnam. "This is the China's oil-slick strategy. From the restricted area of around 5-7 nautical miles from the oil rig to over 10 nautical miles and more," he said.

The official said that the fishery control forces used loudspeakers to give warnings to the Chinese ships. "If the ships do not comply, we will use stronger measures."

In the past 10 days, since anchoring rig HD-981, China has continually interfered with Vietnamese law enforcement forces on duty in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. Its marine surveillance ships, missile-bearing patrol ships and reconnaissance aircraft have harassed and attacked Vietnamese vessels. Intentional collisions on the part of the Chinese have so far injured nine members of the fishery forces and damaged several Vietnamese boats.

Through diplomatic channels and on international fora, the government of Vietnam has asked China to withdraw its rig, ships and aircraft from the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam. Vietnamese people at home and abroad have also marched on the streets and in front of Chinese embassies to protest the infringement of Vietnam’s sovereignty.

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Tran Cham