US concerned about China’s interference in VN's oil and gas activities
US voices concern about China’s interference in Vietnam’s oil and gas activities
The United States Department of State said on August 22 that it is deeply concerned about China’s interference in Vietnam’s longstanding oil and gas activities in Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claim.
A Vietnam Coast Guard ship is on mission around the DK1/15 oil rig. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The United States Department of State said on August22 that it is deeply concerned about China’s interference in Vietnam’s longstanding oil and gasactivities in Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claim.
The departmentexpressed the concern after China’s survey vessel group HaiyangDizhi 8 returned to Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.
In its announcement, the department stressed China’s action called to seriousquestion Beijing’s commitment to peaceful resolution of maritime disputes.
China’s redeployment of a government-owned survey vessel, together with armedescorts, into Vietnam’s waters on August 13 was “escalation by Beijing in itsefforts to intimidate other claimants out of developing resources in the EastSea”.
Earlier the same day, Vietnam also demanded China to immediately withdraw allvessels from Vietnam’s EEZ and not have actions to increase tensions,complicate the situation, and threaten peace, stability and security in theEast Sea and the region.
“Over the past days,China’s survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 returned and continued theirserious infringements of Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continentalshelf determined by regulations of the 1982 United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS),” Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry LeThi Thu Hang said at a press conference on August 22.
She informed that Vietnam’s competent forces at sea have continued to enforce and protectVietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right, and jurisdiction in accordance withinternational law and the country’s law.
“With the determination to safeguard the country’s legitimate rights andinterests and contribute to regional and international peace, stability andsecurity, Vietnam is always willing to settle disputes via peaceful measures inline with international law,” the spokesperson affirmed.
Vietnam called on all relevant countries and theinternational community to make active and practical contributions to themaintenance of order, peace, and security in the region, as well as security,safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, while respecting the principleof the rule of law in the East Sea in conformity with international law,especially the UNCLOS, Hang added.-VNA
China’s survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 had halted its geological survey activities in Vietnam’s UNCLOS-defined exclusive economic zone and southeastern continental shelf on August 7, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on August 8.
Vietnam has made contact with China to oppose its repeated serious violation and demand the country to withdraw its survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 and escort ships out of Vietnam’s territorial waters, the Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said on August 16.
Vietnam has demanded China to immediately stop violations, withdraw all vessels from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and not have actions to increase tensions, complicate the situation, and threaten peace, stability and security in the East Sea and the region, the Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
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A Vietnam Coast Guard ship is on mission around the DK1/15 oil rig. (Photo: VNA) 
