VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will take all the proper and necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests when it comes to the East Sea issue.

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh made the statement on his phone calls with foreign FMs over  China’s illegal placement of drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 on Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

VN demands China withdraw from continental shelf

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh on May 6 and 19 made phone calls to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Chinese FM Wang Yi, respectively after China illegally deployed a drilling rig and vessels in the oil and gas lot 143 belonging to Viet Nam’s continental shelf since May 1.

 Deputy PM, FM Minh said that China’s unilateral deployment of the drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 and a large number of vessels, even military ones, in this area is illegal, runs counter to  international law and practices, seriously violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago as well as its sovereign right and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Viet Nam does not accept and resolutely protests  China’s act and demands it totally withdraw the drilling rig as well as escort vessels from this area, together with Viet Nam to join talks to handle related differences.

Minh affirmed that Viet Nam has full legal and historical grounds to prove its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos as well as sovereign right and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Discussing East Sea issue with US, EU leaders

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and US Secretary of State John Kerry on May 21discussed the relations between Viet Nam and the US and the recent developments in the East Sea, on the phone.

Deputy PM, FM Minh affirmed that Viet Nam has exercised restraint, pursued dialogues, avoided conflicts and resolutely demanded China withdraw the oil rig as well as all its vessels from Viet Nam’s waters because China’s move violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction, threatens stability and maritime safety in the East Sea, and infringes the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Mr. Kerry spoke highly of Viet Nam’s self-restraint and goodwill in using peaceful measures and dialogue channels.

He reiterated the US’s stance of settling disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures and on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

During a phone conversation with Deputy PM, FM Minh on May 29, EU High Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, expressed her special concern over China’s recently acts in the East Sea, saying these acts would affect the security environment in the region.

She called on the relevant parties to seek peaceful and cooperative solutions in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to continue ensuring maritime security and freedom. She also called on the parties to take measures to ease tension and take no unilateral actions that spoil peace and security in the region.

Deputy PM, FM talks on the phone with foreign FMs

The Deputy PM, FM on May 16 talked on the phone with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Singaporean FM K. Shanmugam and Russian FM Sergei Lavrov.

He informed the FMs about the latest developments related to China’s rig Haiyang Shiyou 981, particularly China’s deployment of a large number of ships, including warships and missile-mounted escort ships, to Viet Nam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

Mentioning the recent demonstrations in some localities in Viet Nam with Singaporean FM K. Shanmugam, Deputy PM, FM Minh affirmed thatViet Nam has taken necessary measures to stabilize the situation in industrial parks and punish those who caused public disorder and damaged other people’s properties.

The Singaporean FM appreciated the timely measures taken by the Vietnamese Government, particularly the PM’s instruction on ensuring security and order to assure Singaporean investors.

On July 30, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh had a telephone talk with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius about the East Sea issue.

FM Fabius showed his support for the settlement of East Sea disputes through dialogues and peaceful measures.

VGP/VNN