China Gives Vietnam A Tongue-Lashing Over South China Sea Rig Dispute, 18 June 2014

China Gives Vietnam A Tongue-Lashing Over South China Sea Rig Dispute

During a talk in Hanoi on Wednesday, China's top diplomat, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, accused Vietnam of "hyping up" a dispute over a Chinese oil rig operating in disputed waters in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Source: googleearth

Yang, who made the comments in a meeting with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, said that the Haiyang Shiyou 981's activities were "completely legal."

Among the many challenges to resolving the current dispute is China's demand for compensation in the wake of anti-Chinese riots that occurred in Vietnam following the May 2 deployment of the rig.

Describing Yang's comments, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily briefing, "The most urgent thing is for Vietnam to stop its interference and harassment, stop hyping up the issue and stop whipping up disagreement to create new disputes, and properly deal with the aftermath of the recent serious incidents of violence."

Yang later talked with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and was scheduled to hold discussions with the leader of Vietnam's ruling communist party prior to attending a dinner hosted by the prime minister.

The state councilor's visit is the highest-level direct contact between China and Vietnam since the Haiyang Shiyou 981 was relocated 150 miles off the coast of Vietnam.

A Chinese ship (left) shoots water cannon at a Vietnamese vessel in the South China Sea; Source: CNN

Vietnam claims the rig is within its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and on its continental shelf. China has stated that the rig is operating within its waters by the China-occupied Paracel Islands.

Hua stated, "State Councilor Yang Jiechi said China and Vietnam's relations are facing difficulties at the moment because for more than a month, Vietnam has been continually illegally harassing Chinese drilling operations in the waters near the Paracel Islands."

Since early May, Vietnam-China relations have become icier, with both countries accusing each other of aggravating the situation. Several Chinese and Vietnamese coastguard and fishing ships have repeatedly engaged in conflict around the rig, resulting in many collisions and rammings.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung

Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan also possess claims to areas of the waters. China regards the US's involvement in the dispute in supporting its regional allies, the Philippines and Vietnam, as provoking tension.

Chinese state media quoted a report on Wednesday which said in part, "The United States keeps pushing its pivot to the Asia Pacific strategy, provoking relevant countries to rely on U.S. strength and use violence to scheme at sea, which worsens the problem and increases antagonism."

Last month, Vietnam's Prime Minister Dung said his government was pondering legal redress against China. This elicited an angry response from China, which says the drilling rig will explore until mid-August. Chinese industry analysts said that the rig will likely discover sufficient gas to put the region into production.

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