Mr. Le Hai Binh - Foreign Ministry Spokesman; Mr. Tran Duy Hai - Deputy Chairman of the National Boundary Commission; Mr. Ngo Ngoc Thu - Deputy Commander, Coast Guard Chief of Staff and Mr. Ha Le - Deputy Director of Viet Nam Fisheries Resources Surveillance; Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thap - Deputy Director General of Petro Viet Nam are among the chairpersons of the press conference.

The International Press Conference on developments in the East Sea today has drawn the attention of many media agencies of not only national but also international as well as representatives of various diplomatic missions in Hanoi.

During the press conference, Mr. Tran Duy Hai - Deputy Chairman of the National Boundary Commission provided such information as follows:

"1. China’s activities in violation of international law raise tensions in the East Sea

On 02 May 2014, China placed Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig at 15⁰29'58"N/111^o12'06"E to conduct an exploitation drilling. On 27 May 2014, Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig was moved to the location at 15^o33'38"N/111⁰34'62"E. All these locations lie deep inside Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, about 130-150 nautical miles from Viet Nam’s coast. China’s activities break agreements of the two countries’ high-level leaders on not aggravating the situation in the East Sea, infringe Viet Nam’s national sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction as enshrined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.

Viet Nam has consistently protested against China’s activities that infringe Viet Nam’s territorial sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zones and continental shelf. In the area near where the oil rig is operating, China has, on several occasions, intruded and conducted 2D and 3D seismic surveys since 2005. In all these intrusions, Viet Nam always sent law enforcement ships to convince and drive Chinese vessels out of Viet Namese waters. Viet Nam also made diplomatic communications and sent diplomatic notes to resolutely protest China’s infringements. Since 2005, Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam in Hanoi at least three times and the spokesperson of Viet Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 05 August 2010, had to publicly protest against China and solemnly requested China to immediately stop and avoid the recurrence of activities that violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights in the East Sea of Viet Nam.

Speaking to the media in recent days, China launched false accusations that Viet Nam’s vessels deliberately rammed into Chinese vessels protecting the oil rig. China even accused the sunken Viet Nam fishing boat for deliberately colliding with Chinese vessels. The truth is evident, especially among the many international reporters who eye witnessed China’s aggressive behavior at the scene. Chinese activities not only violated international law concerning the prohibition of the threat or use of force, but were also inhuman towards Vietnamese fishermen.

2. Viet Nam’s position on China’s sovereignty claim over the Hoang Sa Islands (Paracel Islands)

Viet Nam refutes the China’s sovereign claim over the Hoang Sa Islands, which China calls “the Xisha island”, because this claim is legally and historically ill-founded.

Historical facts do not prove China’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands

China quoted several historical documents but these historical documents faced notable problems of authenticity, accuracy and were arbitrarily interpreted. The documents were compiled by individuals, not officially published by the Chinese feudal state. In those documents, the Hoang Sa Islands were inconsistently named and described. In accordance to the international law concerning territorial acquisitions, a country can only establish title to a territory through activities on behalf of the state. The available documents do not provide sufficient evidence in accordance with international law to prove that Chinese feudal state had established a title to the Hoang Sa Islands.

In 1989, after the Bellona and Huneji Maru sank at the Hoang Sa and were looted by Chinese fisherman, the local Chinese authorities (the Governor of Liang Guang) considered that the Hoang Sa were abandoned islands which did not belong to China. They were not administratively attached to any district of Hainan and that no special authority was responsible for policing them. China then refused to take responsibility.

On the contrary, Viet Nam has publicly provided authentic evidences proving that the feudal state of Viet Nam has established sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands when the islands were still terra nullius. From at least the 17th century, the Nguyen dynasties have organised activities to exploit the islands’ resources, undertook maritime measurement and recorded navigation routes, provided protections for other countries’ vessels navigating through the Hoang Sa’s area. These events were well reflected in official documents published by the feudal Viet Namese governments, including the Orders of the King still archived in Viet Nam.

After France signed the Protectorate Treaty of 15 March 1874 and the Petenotre Treaty of 06 June 1884 with the feudal state of Viet Nam, France has, on behalf of Viet Nam, continuously exercised Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands and protested China’s infringements. France conducted many activities to exercise sovereignty over the Hoang Sa, including the building and operation of lighthouses, meteorology stations, establishing administration units and granting birth certification for Viet Namese citizens born in the Hoang Sa Islands. In 1909, the military inspection mission conducted by Commander Li Zhun of the Guandong was a violation of the sovereignty well established by Viet Nam over the Hoang Sa through the activities of the Viet Namese feudal state, and continuously and effectively exercised by France. France, on behalf of Viet Nam, protested all of China’s infringements and reaffirmed that the sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands were well established by Annam (former name of Viet Nam) since 1816.

In 1946, the Chiang Kai Shek administration, making use of the context of the Second World War, illegally intruded the Woody Island of Hoang Sa Islands. In 1947, France protested this illegal occupation, requested that the two parties enter into negotiations and find settlement through third party adjudication. The Republic of China later withdrew from the island.

International conferences did not handover the Hoang Sa Islands to China

After the Second World War, Japan had to renounce and returned all territories, including the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands, occupied by force during the war. The Cairo Declaration of 1943, Potsdam Declarations of 1945 and San Francisco Treaty of 1951 have listed all the territories that Japan had to return to China but excluded the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands. It was noteworthy that the Chiang Kai Shek administration participating in the drafting process of the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations made no reservations concerning the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands. At the Conference, the proposal to revise the Treaty text to include the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands in those territories to be given to China was decisively ruled out by a 46 to 51 majority vote of the participants. Meanwhile, the statement of Tran Van Huu, the Prime Minister of the State of Viet Nam and the Head of the Viet Namese delegation reaffirming Viet Namese sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands, had aroused no objection from any of the participants attending this Conference.

China violated the non-use of force principle of international law therefore could not establish sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands

China illegally invaded the Hoang Sa Islands twice. Taking advantage of the withdrawal of France from Indochina, in 1956 China invaded and occupied the Eastern group of islands of the Hoang Sa. This was the first ever standing occupation of China on the Hoang Sa. This act was met with strong protests from the Republic of Viet Nam. In 1959, a landing attempt on the Western part of the archipelago made by Chinese soldiers disguised as fishermen was put to failure by the Republic of Viet Nam. Eighty-two Chinese "fishermen" were captured. Both these invasions occurred after the statement reaffirming Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands faced no objections in the San Francisco Conference. In 1974, making use of the war situation in Viet Nam, China attacked and grabbed entirely these islands from South Viet Nam from the Republic of Viet Nam. It was the first time ever that China obtained full control of the Hoang Sa Islands.

The use of force to annex territories of other countries is a gross violation of jus cogen and peremptory norms of international law, and thereby could not have awarded China’s sovereignty over these islands.

Viet Nam has never recognized China’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands

China has deliberately distorted and misinterpreted history by pointing to the letter made by the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong in 1958 and other communications and publications from the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (DRV) as proofs of the recognition of China’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa by Viet Nam. Viet Nam sternly rejects these distortions.

First, the letter of Prime Minister Pham Van Dong made no reference to the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. It was merely a document informing that the DRV government agencies would respect the 12 nautical miles breadth of China’s territorial sea. It is obvious that the letter did not deal with sovereignty issue.

In the historical context of 1958, this act from the DRV was undertaken to support China extend its security parameters from 3 miles to 12 miles. China’s argument today is the use of historical fact yesterday out of its historical context and twisted the facts conveniently to back up its wrongful territorial claim today.

Second, as a signatory country of the Geneva Accords in 1954, China must have been well aware of the fact that under the signed Accords, the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa were under the administration of the Republic of Viet Nam by the division of Viet Nam at the 17th parallel and not by the DRV. The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, a unified State since 1976, has immediately inherited and consistently reaffirmed sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa which were well established by different representatives of Viet Nam throughout the history of the country.

In 1974, China used force to fully occupy the Hoang Sa Islands. The Republic of Viet Nam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the South of Viet Nam both expressed their position and protested against China’s invasion. The Republic of Viet Nam requested the United Nation Security Council to convene an emergency meeting on the use of force by China. According to the international law concerning territorial acquisition, sovereignty cannot be established by the use of force against another country’s territorial integrity.

In 1958, the Chinese Leader Dang Xiao Ping was then Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party who was deeply understood the historical context of the documents China quoted. In Beijing in September 1975, Dang Xiao Ping, as Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and Vice Premier of the State Council of China, at the meeting with Viet Namese leader, Secretary General of the Viet Nam Labour Party Le Duan, admitted that there were differences between Viet Nam and China concerning the sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos and that the two sides would negotiate to settle the issue at a later stage. Dang Xiaoping’s statement was well noted in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Note dated 12 May 1988. Viet Nam requests that China respects this historical truth and seriously enters into negotiations with Viet Nam on the sovereignty over the Hoang Sa.

3. Viet Nam’s efforts and goodwill to reduce the current tensions in the East Sea caused by China’s illegal deployment of the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig in Viet Namese waters through dialogue and other peaceful means but China failed to respond constructively.

For more than a month, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and other agreements between the two countries, Viet Nam has made every effort to communicate and conduct dialogue with China under various forms and at various levels to demand China to immediately stop the acts that infringed upon Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, create favorable conditions for immediate commencement of discussions between the two sides on measures to stabilize the situation and manage maritime issues between the two countries. Viet Nam has made more than 30 communications with the relevant Chinese authorities but China still refuses to enter into substantial negotiations about this issue.

China not only failed to respond to Viet Nam’s goodwill, but also launched false accusations against Viet Nam, using fabricated facts, accused Viet Nam of ramming Chinese Government ships for a total of more than 1500 times. China has yet to provide any convincing evidence to back up these groundless accusations. Meanwhile, Viet Nam has publicly shown plenty of videos and photos as evidences of China’s violent and aggressive actions such as ramming, water-cannoning Viet Namese vessels, sinking Viet Namese fishing boat, and injuring dozens Viet Namese. Viet Nam has invited international reporters to the scene and they have subjectively reported.

The direct cause of the current tension is China’s illegal deployment of the oil rig deep into Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf while China insists that the oil rig was located in Chinese waters. Viet Nam expressed many times its goodwill and requested China to withdraw the oil rig in order to create favourable conditions for the two sides to settle disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law. However, China consistently refused to withdraw the oil rig and refused to enter into negotiations. Therefore, China’s statement that the door for negotiation is open does not reflect the reality.

Once again, Viet Nam seriously requests China to respect international law, immediately stop all activities that violate Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, withdraw the oil rig, ships and all other related vehicles and equipment from Viet Nam’s waters and desist from similar actions in the future. Viet Nam also solemnly requests China to resolve all maritime disputes, including territorial and maritime disputes, through peaceful means in conformity with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea".

For his part, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thap, Deputy Director General of Petro Viet Nam presented the history of Viet Nam’s oil exploration activity in the East Sea as well as the PVN's stand over those illegal oil and gas activities of China, clarifying details as follow:

"1. Viet Nam’s oil and gas exploration and production in the East Sea

During the past 40 years, PVN has carried out its normal oil and gas exploration and production in the continental shelf and EEZ of Viet Nam including Paracel Islands and its surrounding areas. PVN has doned and will continue to carry out its cooperation activities with foreign companies for oil and gas exploration and production in the continental shelf and EEZ of Viet Nam. Until now, PVN has signed 100 contracts on oil and gas exploration and production, in which 61 contracts are being implemented. The total activity in Viet Nam’s continental shelf and EEZ covers 500,000km of seismic survey 2D, over 50,000 square km 3D and about 900 drilling wells.

All of these activities are carried out within the continental shelf and EEZ (200 nautical miles) of Viet Nam.

Prior to 1975

From 1969-1970, Viet Nam conducted survey over 12,000 km 2D together with magnetic and airborne gravity surveys in the continental shelf of South Viet Nam (done by Ray Geophysical Mandrel) During 1973-1974, Viet Nam cooperated with Western Geophysical and Geophysical Services Inc. (US) to conduct seismic survey 2D: Project WA74-HS (3,373km) in the offshore area of the Central of Viet Nam that covered Hoang Sa Islands of Viet Nam; Project WA74-PKB (5,328km) in Phu Khanh offshore area.

During 1975-1996 (Viet Nam was a party to the UNCLOS 1982)

During 1985-1983, PetroVietnam conducted seismic survey in the Central offshore area using ship Malugin (USSR), cooperated with NOPEC (Norway) to conduct seismic, magnetic and gravity survey in the area of 10º-15º latitude including Hoang Sa Islands and its surrounding areas. In 1993, Hanoi University cooperated with Paris University VI (France) to use ship Atalant to conduct survey “Ponaga” to measure gravity, magnetic and seismic data and the layer samples in Hoang Sa Islands , the Central and Southeast of Viet Nam.

From 1996 until now, PVN cooperated with foreign companies to carry out activities within the continental shelf and EEZ of Viet Nam (200 nautical miles) in conformity with the UNCLOS 1982.

Since 2007, PVN has carried out many projects on seismic 2D: Survey on Viet Nam’s continental shelf (done by TGS NOPEC of Norway); East Phu Khanh (PGS Singapore); surveys CSL-07, PV-08, TK-10, PVN12 in Hoang Sa Islands and its surrounding areas. Most recently in April 2014, PVN Group in cooperation with Murphy Oil (US) has completed survey 2D for 5000 km in the South of Hoang Sa Islands.

Besides, the oil exploitation and exploration, PVN conducted many researches and assessments on oil and gas potentials in Viet Nam’s EEZ including Paracel and Spratly islands, as well as Tu Chinh and Vung May. There has been various researches and reports done by local and international authors on the assessment of the seismic structure and oil potential in Paracel Islands and the surrounding areas. The researches in the area has been presented by Vietnamese and foreign author at international seminars and conferences, which were highly recognized and appreciated.

As such PVN has been carrying out its normal oil and gas exploration and production activities in Viet Nam Continental Shelf and EEZ including Paracel Islands and its surrounding areas. In the future, PVN will continue its cooperation with foreign companies to carry out activities in Viet Nam’s continental shelf and EEZ (200 nautical miles) as it has done during the past 40 years.

2. PVN’s opposition to China’s illegal oil and gas activities

PVN at the recent press conferences strongly protested China’s illegal deployment of Haiyang Shiyou oil rig 981 on May, 2nd 2014 and China’s statement at May 16th, 2014 press conference in Beijing that “57 oil blocs are located in disputed waters”. PVN reaffirms that China’s nine-dotted line claim is groundless, which is not recognized by the international community and its statement concerning Viet Nam’s 57 oil blocs in the disputed sea is ill-founded and invalid. China has intentionally attempted to turn undisputed waters into disputed areas with its irrational claims. In reality, this area is located fully within Viet Nam’s continental shelf and EEZ.

This is not the first time China carried out illegal activities violating Viet Nam’s waters. Given, China’s previous violations, Viet Nam has voiced its protest through diplomatic channels and struggles together with other on-site communication measure to prevent China from violating Viet Nam’s seas. Following are a number of violation activities against Viet Nam’s continental shelf and EEZ caused by China that were protested by Viet Nam.

1) In 2003 oil rig Katan III attempted to drill in the east of bloc 113.

2) In 2006, China conducted seismic survey 2D near Tri Ton island of Viet Nam using vessel Fen Dou 4. Viet Nam’s law enforcement took preventive measures.

3) In 2007, China conducted seismic survey 3D with the cooperation of Western Geco. PVN summoned Western Geco to demand an end of this activity and warned the survey vessels that it would not be allowed to participate in Viet Nam’s projects.

4) During 2007-2008, China leased TransOcean to carryout drilling activities in Paracel areas. As a result of PVN’s opposition TransOcean refused to cooperate with China.

5) June-August 2010, China signed contract with Western Spirit to conduct seismic survey 3D in blocs 141-143 near Tri Ton island despite of Viet Nam’s protest. China’s vessels threatened Viet Nam’s vessels using water cannons, sirens and turned the artillery gun towards Viet Nam’s vessels.

6) In September 2010, Chinese ship, Fen Dou 4, carried out activities about 80 - 90 nautical miles away from the East of Ly Son islands. This led to an attempt by the Vietnam’s law enforcement vessels to prevent, call upon and drive away Chinese vessels to withdraw from this area.

7) From June to July 2011, Chinese research vessel, the Tanbaohao, conducted survey activities 28 nautical miles away from the West of Tri Ton island (bloc 141 – 143). This led to an effort by the Vietnamese law enforcement vessels to drive this Chinese vessel.

8) In 2012, the CNOOC released an invitation of international bids for the 9 blocs in Central of Viet Nam which was rejected by international oil and gas companies.

9) In Wan Bei, China illegally signed a petroleum contracts for the WAB-21 area with Crestone Energy, which later transferred to Harvest. Until now, there are no activities undertaken by these companies".

A continuation, Mr. Ngo Ngoc Thu, Vice Commander and Chief of Staff of the Vietnamese Coast Guard, provided updates on-site developments in the area where China illegally installs the oil rig of Haiyang Shiyou 981 within the vietnamese waters. Mr. Thu stressed that:

"On May 27, oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 has been moved from the former location, which is 17 nautical miles South West of the Triton island to a new location, which is 23 nautical miles South East of the Triton island. In early June, the location of the oil rig was slightly adjusted before settling at the current location.

- Since the beginning of June, the Chinese oil rig escort forces have frequently maintained 101 to 115 vessels and crafts of various types, including 04 to 06 warships (two missile frigates 534, 572; two fast-attack missile crafts 751, 756; two minesweepers 839, 840) and law-enforcement vessels, towing and service vessels, transport vessels, oil tankers and fishing boats.

- China constantly uses surveillance planes (B3566, B3843); and noticeably jet fighter SU-27, aerial scout TU-154 (no. 81223) and early warning aircraft KJ-200 (no. 9421) to hover over Vietnamese ships at 500-1000m heights to scout, intimidate the Vietnamese ships.

Developments as of June 15^th

- The location of oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 remains unchanged.

- China uses 110 vessels to protect the oil rig, including 06 warships (02 missile frigates 534, 535; two fast-attack crafts 751, 756; two minesweepers 839, 840); 34 coast guard vessels; 02 maritime surveillance ships; 02 patrol vessels; 01 fishery law enforcement ship; 18 towing vessels; 14 transport vessels; and 33 fishing boats.

- During the day, we detected airplane KJ-200 coded 9421 hovering 03 times around and plane Y12 hovering 02 times over the Vietnamese ships at 300-500m heights.

- From 7:30 to 08:05 of June 15^th: China used 16 vessels (Coast guard 3411, 2506, 23, 2371, 44105, 1112, 2337, 13101, 33101, 3383, 263, 2166, 21, 33102 and two towing vessels) to obstruct Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel 8003, 2016, 2015, 2013, 4032, 4033 and fishery surveillance vessel 952 at the location from 8.2 to 10 nautical miles from the oil rig.

The Chinese escort fleet is divided into 3 rings: the inner ring which is 1 – 1.5 nautical miles from the rig with 10 – 15 vessels; the middle ring which is 4.5 – 5 nautical miles from the rig with 40 - 45 vessels; the outer ring which is 10 - 12 nautical miles from the oil rig with 25 – 35 vessels. The inner ring vessels frequently swap locations. China constantly deploy 9 to 12 speed vessels together with the towing vessels to closely follow the Vietnamese vessels at a distance of 200m shouting high-power speakers and honks, standing ready to ram and fire water cannon at the Vietnamese ships.

Chinese vessels are ready to cut-off, rear-block, approach the side and collide with Vietnamese ships, fire high-power water cannon to cause damage to the Vietnamese ships and on-deck equipments, use high frequency sonar system and high-lumen light to negatively affect the mental and physical health of the Vietnamese crews when the Vietnamese ships approach to broadcast reassertion of Viet Nam’s sovereignty and prevent the illegal operation of the oil rig ( at 13:55 on June 7th, fishery resources surveillance vessel 635 was rammed by Chinese towing vessel 281 from the left rear, causing damage to the sleeping cabin measuring 5m long and 3m wide and deforming the deck).

There are about 40 - 45 Chinese fishing vessels divided into 2 groups and supported by their coast guard vessels. They frequently obstruct Vietnamese fishing boats operating in Viet Nam’s traditional fishing ground in Hoang Sa, from 30 to 40 nautical miles South West and West-South West of the oil rig.

Despite complex weather conditions, the Vietnamese law enforcement forces have been perseveringly stationed at the site to perform law enforcement duties and hinder the illegal operation of the Chinese oil rig and escort forces within Viet Nam’s waters.

On June 13^th, Chinese Foreign Ministry organized a press conference about oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 where it provided distorted information and images about on-site developments. We, therefore, would like to clarify the followings:

- China announced that up to 12:00 of June 13^th 2014, the Vietnamese vessels rammed 1547 times into Chinese vessels, damaging the ship bow. We reject the false and unreasonable information as such. In reality, only Chinese vessels intentionally rammed and fired water cannon at the Vietnamese ships causing damages to 36 times/ships (23 fishery resources surveillance ships, 05 coast guard vessels, 07 fishing boats, among which fishing boat DNa 90152 was sank by Chinese vessel 11209 at 16:00 on May 26^th 2014 at 16.5 nautical miles South West from the oil rig). Since May 3^rd, a total of 15 Vietnamese fishery resources surveillance staff and 02 Vietnamese fishermen have been wounded. We have all the evidence and images showing Chinese vessels ramming Vietnamese vessels. The Vietnamese vessels could never have been able to hit the Chinese vessel bow with their deck and rear.

- About China’s slandering Viet Nam of deploying frogmen, casting fishing nets and barriers at the site to harm the Chinese vessels and crew:

I would reaffirm that to date Viet Nam has not used any frogman at the site. About the fishing nets and floating objects that China collected, when Vietnamese fishing boats conducting normal operations within their traditional fishing ground, they were obstructed, rammed and fired water cannon at by Chinese vessels; therefore, they had to abandon the nets to avoid China’s impediments and destructive activities. The Chinese vessels also seized the Vietnamese vessels’ fishing nets and fishing equipments. The floating objects that China collected at sea were debris caused by Chinese vessels’ ramming and water cannon firing at the Vietnamese ships. The debris included the oil tanks, paint tanks, and wood pieces (training equipments) and other equipments on-deck. It is totally wrongful for China to intentionally collect the objects and claim them the artificial barriers.

- China said it would not send military crafts and vessels to the site. In fact, both our-selves and the reporters from major international and domestic press agencies have been able to record the figures and codes of Chinese crafts operating at the site. These are undeniable evidences. Over the past 40 days, it could not have been possible that 04 – 06 warships performed normal patrol over the area as announced by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

- Despite the continued impediments and destructive activities of Chinese vessels, despite their drastic ramming and firing of water cannon at our forces, the Vietnamese coast guard and fishery resources surveillance have maintained utmost restraint and tried to avoid collision with the Chinese forces. The Vietnamese vessels did not fire water cannon nor ram the Chinese escort and fishing vessels. We only used speakers to demand China to withdraw its oil rig and escort vessels from the Vietnamese waters".

Finally, Mr. Ha Le, Deputy Chief of the Fishery Resource Surveillance, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has given information relating to the Vietnamese fishermen’s fishing activities and Vietnamese Fishery Resource Surveillance’s law enforcement in the waters of Viet Nam where China illegally placed the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig, the content of his presentation is as the following:

"1. The general situation at the site where China illegally placed the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig

After detecting China’s illegal placement of the oil rig in the waters of Viet Nam, violating Viet Nam’s sovereignty and seriously disrupting the normal and lawful fishing operation of Vietnamese fishermen in their traditional fishing fields in Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa (Paracels) Islands, Vietnamese Fishery Resource Surveillance and Coast Guard forces have been dispatched to the site to communicate and request China to withdraw its oil rig from Viet Nam’s seas, performed their maritime law enforcement duties and assisted Vietnamese fishermen.

China operated an average of 120 vessels per day, including many military vessels, surveillance aircrafts and helicopters to intimidate Vietnamese law enforcement forces. Chinese ships have intentionally attacked and intimidated Vietnamese Fishery Resource Surveillance vessels under the form of surrounding, ramming, colliding and firing water cannon. Chinese forces even approached alongside Vietnamese ships, threw hard objects to Vietnamese fishery surveillance vessels and used high-sonic sound, high-powered headlight to affect the psychology and health of Vietnamese Fishery Resource Surveillance forces. Besides, Chinese vessels also used tactics to trap Vietnamese ships to make collision by such actions as rear-blocking, crossing the bow of Vietnamese ships to make Vietnamese vessels ram or deliberately push back to ram into Vietnamese vessels, thereby creating false evidences slandering Vietnamese vessels ramming into the Chinese ships. We have full materials and evidences to prove and affirm that there has not been any case that Viet Nam intentionally rammed into China's vessels as reported by Chinese side.

To date 23 Vietnamese Fishery Resource Surveillance vessels have been intentionally rammed and fired of high-pressure water cannons by the Chinese side (there have been serious damages such as breakage of wave barriers, distortion of cabin, breakage of cabin glass, damage to maritime equipments such as communication devices, radar, compass, navigation operational tools, anchor winch system ......). In addition, 15 Fishery Resource Surveillance personnels were injured.

In May 2014, China unilaterally applied a fishing ban to foreign fishing vessels in some areas in the East Sea for 2 ½ months starting on May 16th 2014 (including the waters of Hoang Sa, Viet Nam). However, right from May 16th 2014, China dispatched about 50 ironclad fishing vessels to the site where the drilling platform was placed. It is evident that Chinese fishing vessels present here not for fishing purposes but in fact to join Chinese marine law enforcement and military forces to hamper, intimidate and damage Vietnamese fishing vessels (China used specialized tools to cut nets; ruin fishing gears, communication equipments and machinery on board ....). China also exerted inhuman treatment to Vietnamese fishermen, sank Vietnamese fishing boats which performed their legal and regular fishing operations in the traditional fishing fields of Viet Nam.

Since 1_^st May 2014, during normal production in traditional fishing fields in the Hoang Sa of Viet Nam, Vietnamese fishing vessels were chased and intimidated by China hundreds of times; 17 Vietnamese vessels were damaged by Chinese law enforcement force and fishing vessels, leaving dozens of fishermen wounded, including 03 fishermen who were seriously injured.

2. Chinese Foreign Ministry announced (at the press conference on 13^th June 2014) that: "In the afternoon of May 26th, a Vietnamese fishing vessel repeatedly rammed into Chinese fishing vessels and was capsized by itself. The Chinese vessels attempted to rescue, but there were 30 Vietnamese vessels quickly surrounded this fishing vessel, therefore Chinese side was not able to rescue. Therefore, there is no evidence that Chinese vessels prevented rescue efforts".

Regarding this issue, we would like to reaffirm that: In this area, Vietnamese fishing vessels are often chased and intimidated by the Chinese side. A particularly serious incident occurred on 26th May 2014. A Vietnamese fishing vessel numbered DNa-90152-TS carrying 10 fishermen on board went fishing 17 nautical miles away from the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig, was surrounded and intimidated by many Chinese fishing vessels and Chinese vessel numbered 11209 intentionally chased, rammed and sank the DNa-90152-TS until it capsized. In addition, Chinese fishing vessels also prevented Vietnamese vessels from carrying out rescue efforts for 10 fishermen on board of DNa-90152-TS.

We oppose and reject the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China at the press conference on 13th June 2014. We have full materials and evidences to prove the wrongdoings of China.

On the ground, Viet Nam Fishery Resource Surveillance continues to exercise self- restrain, avoid collision and resolutely uses peaceful means to persuade and request China to withdraw from the waters where they are operating illegally. We will continue to conduct law enforcements at sea and we are determined to defend Viet Nam’s sovereignty, fishing fields and support Vietnamese fishermen to continue their fishery exploitation in Viet Nam’s waters".