The Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations Office, the World Trade Organisation and Other International Organisations in Geneva on May 20 issued a press release on the recent developments in the East Sea and Viet Nam’s position on the situation.

The press release gave detailed descriptions of China’s move since May 2, 2014 when it installed the Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig inside Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Viet Nam informs int’l organisations on East Sea situation

It emphasized that the operation of the drilling platform and supporting ships constitutes an intentional and grave violation of Viet Nam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction on the Hoang Sa Archipelago, and its Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf. This also seriously violates the agreement reached between the leaders of the two countries as well as going against the spirit and language of the 2002 Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and relevant provisions of international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China's wrongful act negatively affects the maritime security and safety in the East Sea and directly threatens peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

(Source: VNA/VOV)