International media exposes China's aggression.

Many international reporters have had the opportunity to witness and report on the threatening and dangerous actions of Chinese ships against Vietnamese ships near the Hai Duong-981 oil rig.

Images from international reporters depict the aggressive behavior of Chinese ships and the tense situation at sea - Photo: taken from a website.

In response to China's illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig in Vietnamese waters, major American and Japanese news outlets simultaneously published reports from their reporters. Specifically, in a CNN article, reporter Euan McKirdy reported on the incident where a Chinese vessel rammed and sank a Vietnamese fishing boat. On the afternoon of May 27th, McKirdy witnessed a Chinese coast guard vessel blowing its horn loudly, seemingly provoking Vietnamese maritime law enforcement forces. In his article, McKirdy also asserted that China's placement of the rig was unilateral, further escalating tensions in the maritime dispute.

Osamu Maruyama, a reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest daily newspaper, reported that approximately 100 Chinese ships were aggressively guarding the Haiyang-981 oil rig to obstruct about 30 Vietnamese law enforcement vessels. “The situation I witnessed could easily escalate into a major clash,” Maruyama stated, adding, “Observing the rig area through binoculars, I could see many Chinese ships in front forming a giant fortress. With every movement of the rig, the ships changed positions. In the middle, I saw Vietnamese ships also changing direction to respond to every movement of the Chinese ships.” According to Maruyama, the Chinese ships were increasingly acting aggressively and recklessly, such as two ships surrounding a Vietnamese ship and spraying it with water cannons, or another Chinese ship suddenly ramming a Vietnamese ship. From this, Maruyama concluded, “China’s aggressive actions continue to escalate.”

Manabu Sasaki, a journalist from Asahi Shimbun, Japan's second-largest newspaper, also clearly stated: At 3:45 PM on May 27th, nine Chinese ships surrounded five Vietnamese ships, including the ship carrying the press delegation, in the area. Furthermore, when a Vietnamese fisheries patrol vessel stopped moving, a larger and better-equipped Chinese ship attempted to approach, coming within approximately 30 meters. Many Vietnamese fishermen also told Sasaki that they were attacked by sailors on the Chinese ships. Based on the journalist's on-site description, Asahi Shimbun published an editorial warning that China's illegal placement of the oil rig in Vietnamese waters is a new sign that China is ignoring international opinion and attempting to "impose its dominance" in the South China Sea. The newspaper quoted a Chinese researcher revealing that the illegal placement of the oil rig in Vietnamese waters was a decision made by high-ranking Chinese leaders earlier this year, not an independent action by the country's national oil and gas corporation. The Asahi Shimbun also once published an editorial demanding that China stop drilling for oil in the South China Sea.

According to Thanh Nien newspaper.