Defence Minister, Gen. Phung Quang Thanh called on China to exercisemaximum restraint, without the use of armed force, in the East Sea, ashe talked with his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan in Nay Pyi Taw,Myanmar on May 19.
The meeting came with both men in thecapital to attend the eighth ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, lastingfrom May 19-21.
Informing the media of their conversation onMay 20, Thanh said the tension has persisted since China illegallyinstalled its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Vietnam’s waters in earlyMay, sparking regional concern and a wave of protests in Vietnam andaround the world.
Vietnam continues to safeguardingsovereignty by peaceful means in compliance with international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea andthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, he said.
The country deploys only law enforcement mission ships operated bythe coast guard, fisheries surveillance teams and fishermen. Thanh wenton to say that he had requested the Chinese side stop using aircraft,warships and boats equipped with high-pressure water cannons, the latterhaving been used to damage Vietnamese ships, injuring many crewmembers.
Vietnam stands firm in safeguarding not only territorialsovereignty but peace and socio-political stability at home as well, theGeneral declared.
As the country is willing to fosterfriendship with China in the spirit of comprehensive strategiccooperative partnership, he proposed more discussions between seniorChinese and Vietnamese leaders so as to stabilise the situation as soonas possible.
Asked about Chang’s reaction to his suggestions, Thanh said he still insists the rig lies within China’s waters.
“I responded by saying that the rig is well within Vietnam’scontinental shelf and exclusive economic zone already defined in theUNCLOS, and requested that China stop unilateral action and come to thetable with Vietnam”.
He also demanded China withdraw the rigout of the waters immediately, so that Vietnamese fishermen in the areacan continue earning their living safely.-VNA
The meeting came with both men in thecapital to attend the eighth ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, lastingfrom May 19-21.
Informing the media of their conversation onMay 20, Thanh said the tension has persisted since China illegallyinstalled its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Vietnam’s waters in earlyMay, sparking regional concern and a wave of protests in Vietnam andaround the world.
Vietnam continues to safeguardingsovereignty by peaceful means in compliance with international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea andthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, he said.
The country deploys only law enforcement mission ships operated bythe coast guard, fisheries surveillance teams and fishermen. Thanh wenton to say that he had requested the Chinese side stop using aircraft,warships and boats equipped with high-pressure water cannons, the latterhaving been used to damage Vietnamese ships, injuring many crewmembers.
Vietnam stands firm in safeguarding not only territorialsovereignty but peace and socio-political stability at home as well, theGeneral declared.
As the country is willing to fosterfriendship with China in the spirit of comprehensive strategiccooperative partnership, he proposed more discussions between seniorChinese and Vietnamese leaders so as to stabilise the situation as soonas possible.
Asked about Chang’s reaction to his suggestions, Thanh said he still insists the rig lies within China’s waters.
“I responded by saying that the rig is well within Vietnam’scontinental shelf and exclusive economic zone already defined in theUNCLOS, and requested that China stop unilateral action and come to thetable with Vietnam”.
He also demanded China withdraw the rigout of the waters immediately, so that Vietnamese fishermen in the areacan continue earning their living safely.-VNA
