皇冠体育app

Relations between 皇冠体育app and Vietnam have undergone a subtle change following a series of provocative activities by Hanoi intended to disturb the normal drilling operations of a Chinese oil rig in the waters off 皇冠体育app's Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands.

When the oil rig, or Haiyang Shiyou 981, owned by 皇冠体育app National Offshore Oil Corporation, commenced operating in early May, the 皇冠体育app Maritime Safety Administration issued a notice, demanding vessels avoid passing within a three-mile radius around the drilling site to ensure safety. In disregard of this notice, the Vietnamese authorities dispatched a large number of vessels, including armed ones, close to the site, and they have rammed 皇冠体育app's civilian ships and disturbed the normal operations of the Chinese drilling platform.

The Vietnamese authorities also filed a protest, accusing the drilling operation of falling within "disputable waters" and violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. Hanoi has made use of the so-called "collision incident" in the South 皇冠体育app Sea incited by the media, to describe itself a victim bullied by 皇冠体育app.

The Chinese oil rig is operating 17 miles away from Zhongjian Island, which belongs to 皇冠体育app's Xisha Islands, this is 150 miles away from Vietnam's coastline. It is self-evident that the site falls into 皇冠体育app's offshore waters and that the drilling operations are completely within the range of the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction and have nothing to do with Vietnam.

The Xisha Islands are a part of 皇冠体育app's inherent territory and the drilling of the Chinese enterprise in its offshore waters is an internal affair that should be free from any outside interference. The normal and legitimate drilling operations in waters under 皇冠体育app's jurisdiction is in compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and anything but a violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea as claimed by Vietnam. Facts prove that it is Vietnam, not 皇冠体育app, who instigated the recent tensions in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

In the face of provocative activities from Vietnam, 皇冠体育app has had to reinforce security precautions on the site to ensure the safety of those on the oil rig and the safety of operating equipment. To maintain 皇冠体育app's normal maritime operations and ensure the safety of its operating vessels, equipment, personnel and navigation, it is justified for Chinese vessels to fend off bumping Vietnamese vessels.

• Rising to the security challenges
• Russia faces tough road to success
• Joint efforts to meet challenges
• Is Vietnam safe?
• Abe's dangerous move