Vietnamese Ambassador to Norway Le Thi Tuyet Mai has informed the Norwegian Parliament of the current tension in the East Sea after China illegally positioned its drilling rig in Vietnam’s waters in early May.

A Vietnam Fishing Surveillance Department ship was deliberately rammed and seriously damaged by two Chinese ships illegally operating in Vietnamese waters on June 23.

(VOV) - Vietnamese ambassador to Turkey Nguyen The Cuong recently handed over documents protesting against China’s illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone to Turkey and a number of other countries. 

(VOV) - The Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 23 expressed concern about the escalated tension in the East Sea and asked parties concerned to exercise restraint and avoid further actions that may complicate the situation in the region.

(VOV) - The legal ramifications and motivation for China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in the East Sea was the topic that captured major attention of international and Vietnamese scholars.

China on June 22 mobilised up to 137 ships, including five military ships, to protect its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 that is illegally standing in Vietnam’s waters, according to the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

(VOV) - Professor Renato DeCastro from Manila-based De La Salle University has said that by deploying the second oil rig [Nanhai 9] to the East Sea, China has put the Philippines and Vietnam in the same boat.

(VOV) - Professor Jerome Cohen from New York University’s School of Law says China should enter negotiations  and settle the current territorial dispute peacefully or it will make things difficult for itself.

(VOV) - Hundreds of, Vietnamese nationals, students and international friends marched along the streets of the Swiss capital Bern, on June 21, opposing China’s escalating violations in the East Sea.

China on June 21 maintained 118 ships, including six military ships, to protect its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 that is illegally standing in Vietnam’s waters, reported the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

(VOV) - As China has not put forth any persuasive evidence proving sovereignty over the two groups of islands [Spratly and Paracel], Vietnam should use all legal maneuvers available to demonstrate to the world that justice is on their side.

(VOV) - Vietnamese and foreign scholars on June 21 gave an in-depth analysis of China’s illegal placement of its floating drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive zone and continental shelf.

Chinese military aircraft on June 20 flew at a low altitude above Vietnamese law enforcement vessels operating near the place where China illegally places its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 inside Vietnam’s waters, according to Vietnam News Agency reporters at the site. 

(VOV) - Professor Carlyle Thayer from the Australian University of New South Wales has suggested that China’s illegal placement of Haiyang Shiyou-981 inside Vietnam’s territorial waters should be referred to the UN Security Council for discussion.

(VOV) - Vietnamese ambassador Pham Xuan Son has called on the international community, including Russia, to voice their continued support for Vietnam and contribute to easing tensions in the East Sea, so as to maintain regional peace, stability and security.

The latest developments in the East Sea came to the fore at a seminar held by the Sri Lanka – Vietnam Solidarity Association in Colombia on June 18, after China illegally placed its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in early May. 

Despite the Chinese aggression in the East Sea, Vietnamese fisheries surveillance and coast guard authorities on June 19 continued to relentlessly demand China remove its drilling rig out of Vietnam’s waters and respect international law, reported the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

(VOV) - International scholars say China’s placement of Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s territorial waters is an initial step towards legalising the nine-dash line ambition in the East Sea, but warn its land reclamation in the Spratly archipelago is a serious threat to regional security.

(VOV) - Increased tensions and solutions to the territorial dispute over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in the East Sea will be hotly debated at a seminar in Danang on June 20-21.

(VOV) -Senior French officials attribute the heightened tensions in the East Sea to China’s hegemonic policy, in which it attempts to dominate countries in the region through aggression and threats of force.

One June 18, three Chinese aircraft flew above the site where Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 is standing illegally in Vietnamese waters, the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force reported.

(VOV) - The Mexico-Vietnam Cooperation and Friendship Institute (ICAMV) has called on China to fully commit to agreements it signed with Vietnam and international organisations, in order to settle the East Sea dispute peacefully.

(VOV) - East Sea tensions were hotly debated at a recent workshop in capital Vienna where scholars shed light on the current situation and suggested solutions to the territorial dispute.

A Chinese helicopter landed on the oil drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in the East Sea on June 17.

(VOV) - Vietnam and China will examine ways to resolve the current tensions in the East Sea at their Inter-Governmental Committee meeting slated for June 18.

(VOV) -Egypt supports Vietnam’s efforts to settle East Sea-related issues through political negotiations and peaceful solutions.

(VOV) - Professor Carlyle A. Thayer – a renowned expert on the East Sea from the Australian Defence Force Academy – stands in staunch opposition to the recent claims by two purported Chinese scholars that China’s sovereignty claims are legitimate.

As many as 38 Chinese fishing vessels and a Chinese coast guard ship coded 46102 on June 16 made a line to block and violently disturb Vietnamese fishing boats operating normally in Vietnam ’s waters, according to the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an international press conference in Hanoi on June 16 to clarify China’s wrongful, groundless allegations of the current situation in the East Sea made on June 13 and provide fresh developments there. 

China’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf will be discussed at an annual dialogue on bilateral partnership this week, Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh has said.