The US welcomes China's relocation of the oil rig.

Washington welcomed China's move of the Haiyang 981 drilling rig toward Hainan Island, after more than two months of exploratory drilling near the Paracel Islands, which had heightened regional tensions.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a press briefing yesterday that the US hopes the issue will be resolved through diplomatic means.

A Chinese coast guard vessel sailed near the Haiyang 981 oil rig on May 14. Photo: AFP

"The oil rig incident shows that parties need to clarify their sovereignty claims under international law in order to reach a common understanding of how to behave and act in disputed areas," Psaki said.

A Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, or COC, should be established and applied to all parties with territorial claims in the region, she said. The U.S. supports the parties involved voluntarily freezing activities that could cause tension and provocation.

On July 15, China announced the relocation of the 981 oil rig towards Hainan Island, after more than two months of illegal deployment on Vietnam's continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. Vietnam demanded that China not repeat similar acts of violating its sovereignty.

Previously, on July 11, the US Senate passed a resolution on maritime security in East Asia, which demanded that China refrain from actions that alter the status quo and return the oil rig to its position as it was before May 1.

According to VnExpress