Together with local people, the Hoa (Chinese people) community in southern Long An province has expressed their annoyance about China’s illegal placement of an oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

A Chinese vessel rammed into Vietnam's ship (Photo: Vietnam Coast Guard)

Huynh Nghiep Tan, from the second generation of the Chinese people living in Vietnam, vice head of a dragon dance club in Tan An city, said China’s placement of its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Vietnam’s waters is an illegal act.

Tan added China needs to respect Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty and the friendship between the two countries.

He said he wants China to remove the drilling rig out of Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and Chinese ships to stop ramming against and firing water cannons at Vietnamese Coast Guard and Fisheries Surveillance Force vessels.

He called on the Chinese people in Vietnam and the world at large to jointly condemn the provocative act taken by China and demand China withdraw the oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters.

Tang Thi Kim Dung, a member of the women’s association of the Hoa community in Tan An city, also concurred with Tan’s point of view.

Tan An city is home to more than 1,000 Chinese people. Over the recent past, they have criticized and publicised the illegal action taken by China, hoping that by rallying the community they can secure a peaceful life in the interests of the country and the world at large.

On May 20, religious dignitaries, academics and members of the public in the southern province of An Giang condemned the illegal act by China in Vietnam’s waters, appealing to all social classes to peacefully raise their voices against the violation.

The same day, the fisheries association of central Ninh Thuan province held a meeting to protest China’s behaviour. Local fishermen agreed with the Government’s efforts in protecting the national sovereignty over its sea and islands by peaceful measures in line with international law.

Source: vietnamplus.vn