New developments: China increases iron-hulled fishing boats to 40

According to information from the Vietnam Coast Guard Command on the situation in the area where China illegally placed the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf on May 14, by 2:50 p.m., the number of Chinese iron-hulled fishing boats (100-150 tons displacement) at the scene had increased from 15 to 40.

Accordingly, the number of Chinese military ships on the scene includes military ships (2 missile frigates, 2 landing transport ships 998, 999 (Landing transport ships with a displacement of 17 thousand tons. The ship is equipped with 1/8 anti-aircraft missile launcher, 1 76mm gun mount, 2/4 30mm guns); the forces protecting the Haiyang-981 drilling rig are basically the same as on May 13. In particular, the number of Chinese iron-hulled fishing boats (displacement of 100-150 tons) on the scene has increased from 15 to 40.

(Photo taken on the morning of May 12 via satellite). Chinese helicopter B.7112 flies above ship CSB 8003 at an altitude of 250-300m. (Source: canhsatbien.vn)

From 8:55 to 9:05, the patrol plane (number 8321) flew two circles over the formation of CSB 8003 and CSB 4033, at an altitude of about 300-350 meters.

The Chinese force protecting the drilling rig is still divided into protection lines like on May 13. When the coast guard ships approached, China simultaneously used its forces to block them, ready to ram the Vietnamese ships.

From 8:27 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Chinese iron-hulled fishing boats regularly followed, prevented, and chased away Vietnamese fishing boats from fishing in an area 7-10 nautical miles from the Haiyang-981 drilling rig.

Coast Guard and Fisheries Surveillance ships continuously maneuvered to approach the rig from the West-Northwest to conduct propaganda to affirm sovereignty, demanding that rig 981 and Chinese protection ships leave Vietnam's waters.

When approaching 6-7 nautical miles from the rig, Vietnamese ships were closely followed, blocked, and actively rammed by Chinese Coast Guard ships (4 Coast Guard ships numbered 45014, 3411, 46102, 2112 approached the closest ship CSB 8003 at 100 meters. Coast Guard ship 46102 proactively rammed directly into the right side of ship CSB 2016. Because ship CSB 2016 proactively stopped and reversed its engine in time, the Chinese Coast Guard ship passed 5 meters in front of the bow of the Vietnamese ship).

Vietnam Coast Guard and Fisheries Surveillance ships maneuvered and evaded in time to ensure safety.

Vietnamese fishing boats fishing in the area of ​​the drilling rig are often obstructed and chased away by Chinese iron-hulled fishing boats, but Vietnamese fishing boats, with the close support and safety assurance of Vietnam Coast Guard and Fisheries Surveillance ships, still steadfastly hold their ground./.

According to VNA