The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry has staunchly opposed the recent action of Chinese marine surveillance vessels, in cutting the exploration cables of a PetroVietnam ship which was conducting seismic surveys at Lot 148 within Vietnam’s continental shelf.

The China marine surveillance ship coded 84 enters Vietnam territorial waters on May 26, 2011.

In an answer to Vietnam News Agency reporters’ question on the issue on May 27, the ministry official confirmed that while the Binh Minh 02 ship of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) was conducting a seismic survey at Lot 148, within the country’s 200 nautical mile continental shelf on May 26, 2011, Chinese boats 12, 17 and 84 cut the Binh Minh 02 ship’s exploration cables at a location 12 degrees 48’25” north latitude and 111 degrees 26’48” east longitude, 120 nautical miles from the Dai Lanh cape in the central province of Phu Yen.

The official said the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s representative handed over a diplomatic note to representatives of the Chinese embassy in Hanoi to protest against China’s above action, demanding the country immediately cease and prevent the re-occurrence of its activities violating the sovereignty of Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and provide compensation to Vietnam.

The diplomatic note stated that China’s actions seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty right to its continental shelf and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and went against the spirit and content of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN and China in 2002, and the common awareness of the two countries’ senior leaders of preventing further complications over the situation in the East Sea.

Vietnam demands that the Chinese side immediately stop and not to repeat actions that violate Vietnam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction rights over its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, as well as pay damages for the Vietnamese side.

The statement was made by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Nguyen Phuong Nga at a press conference in Hanoi on May 29.

“Vietnam resolutely opposes the Chinese side’s action that damaged and hindered Vietnam’s normal exploration and survey activities on its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, causing great damages for PetroVietnam,” she stressed.

This action seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction rights over its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, breaking the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and going against the spirit and words in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN and China in 2002, as well as the common perception of the high-ranking leaders of Vietnam and China, she added.

Nga also rejected the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s remarks on May 28, that the Vietnamese side’s oil and gas exploration activities in the waters managed by China damaged the country’s interests and management right in “South China Sea”, going against the two countries’ common perception on the “South China Sea” issue and that the action taken by the Chinese governing body is merely a marine supervision and law execution in the China-managed waters.

She explained that the area where Vietnam conducted explorations is entirely within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam as stipulated by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This is neither a disputed area nor an area “managed by China”. China is intentionally misleading the public opinion into thinking it is a disputed area.

Nga at the same time stressed that Vietnam always adheres to the common perception of the countries’ high-ranking leaders on addressing all disputes through peaceful measures and avoiding actions that further sophisticate the situation. “There is no common perception that says China has the right to impede Vietnam’s activities in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam,” she said, adding that it is China’s action that goes against the common perception of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.”

The spokesperson also pointed out that while China calls for solving relevant disputes through peaceful measures; its own action is making the situation in the East Sea more complicated.

The cable of PetroVietnam’s ship which was cut by a China surveillance ship.

Asked about China’s nine-dashed line claim in the East Sea, and a series of recent disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines, Deputy Chairman of Vietnam’s National Border Committee, Nguyen Duy Chien said: “China’s nine-dotted line or “U-shaped line” in the East Sea is completely groundless and runs counter to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which China is a member. The claim has violated the exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of a number of countries in the region, including Vietnam, and prompted protests from these countries. China’s attempt to materialize this claim is in fact increasing tension in the region.”

In response to journalists’ questions about Chinese leaders’ repeated proclamations that “China advocates peaceful solutions to disputes” and that “It is powerful but not hegemonic”, Nga said “We hope that China will fulfill its role as a power and strictly follow what Chinese leaders have declared.”

Do Van Hau, Deputy General Director of PetroVietnam, briefed reporters of the incident when PetroVietnam-owned Binh Minh 02 ship was blocked and threatened, as well as had its cables cut by three Chinese marine surveillance vessels while conducting explorations at 12 degrees 48’25” north latitude and 111 degrees 26’48” east longitude, some 116 nautical miles off Dai Lanh cape in the central coastal province of Phu Yen.

Hau emphasized that the sea water where PetroVietnam’s ship was operating is deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf.

PetroVietnam has conducted seismic surveys in the area for numerous times and Binh Minh ship 02 operation within the sea waters under Vietnam’s sovereignty is quite normal, said the PetroVietnam senior official.

Hau said the Chinese ships’ cutting Vietnamese ship’s cables is a deliberate and well-prepared action.

“It is impossible to cut cables at a depth of 30m under the water without special equipment,” the oil and gas exploration expert explained.

“The incident has caused considerable losses and obstructed operations of PetroVietnam. The Binh Minh 02 ship and logistics ships had to stop working in order to repair the damaged facilities,” Hau said, adding that the Binh Minh 02 ship has so far resumed normal operation after the repair.

Source: TTXVN