According to the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department, on July 15,China maintained 70-75 vessels of various kinds around the rig HaiyangShiyou-981 it is illegally placing in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zoneand continental shelf.

The vessels, including warships,lined up, sped towards Vietnamese ships as close as 100-300 meters, andblasted sirens to impede the Vietnamese vessels from accessing the rigat a distance of about 10-11 nautical miles for communication works.

At a fishing ground which is 34-39 nautical miles from the oilplatform, a Chinese coast guard ship coded 31101 frequently followed andhindered Vietnamese fishing ships.

The Vietnamese fisheriessurveillance and coast guard forces avoided the China’s harassment andensured safety for the fishing vessels to maintain their normalactivities in Vietnam’s waters.

They also persistently demanded China to withdraw its oil rig from Vietnam’s waters.

All necessary preparations are being made to ensure safety forfishermen as tropical storm Rammasun is approaching the East Sea.

The storm has affected the Vietnamese vessels carrying out law enforcement missions on the site of China’s oil rig.

In early May, China illegally dispatched the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraftto Vietnam’s waters and positioned the rig 80 miles deep into Vietnam’scontinental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

DespiteVietnam’s protest, China expanded its scale of operation and moved therig to 15 degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees34 minutes 11 seconds east longitude, 60 nautical miles deep insideVietnam’s waters.-VNA