Demanding China immediately withdraw HD-981 drilling rig from the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin

Vietnam resolutely protests and demands that China cancel its well drilling plan and immediately withdraw the Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig from this area.

China's Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig (Photo: AP)

On April 7, in response to a reporter's question asking about Vietnam's reaction to China's Haiyang Shiyou 981 (HD-981) drilling rig entering the waters outside the Gulf of Tonkin from the evening of April 3, 2016 to conduct operations, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh stated:

“According to information from Vietnamese authorities, since the evening of April 3, 2016, China’s Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig has moved to the location with coordinates 17º3’12 North - 110º04’18 East to operate. This is the area outside the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin where Vietnam and China are negotiating delimitation.

Vietnam resolutely protests and demands that China cancel its drilling plan and immediately withdraw the Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig from this area, refrain from any further unilateral actions that further complicate the situation, and make practical contributions to peace and stability in the East Sea.

Vietnam reserves all its legal rights and interests in the above-mentioned area by all peaceful means permitted by international law to protect those legitimate rights and interests.”

On the afternoon of April 5, 2016, a representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to hand over a diplomatic note of protest./.

According to VOV