In this file photo released by Vietnam Coast Guard, a Chinese ship, left, shoots water cannon at a Vietnamese vessel, right, while a Chinese Coast Guard ship, center, sails alongside in the South China Sea, off Vietnam’s coast, on May 7. AP
MANILA, Philippines – Vietnam should stop resisting China’s deployment of an oil rig in disputed waters because they are only harming themselves, China’s foreign ministry spokesman said after a Vietnamese fishing boat was sunk allegedly by China.
“What has happened shows that Vietnam’s unjustified and illegal disruption and destruction of China’s normal operations can lead them nowhere,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a press conference.
“They will only end up harming their own interests. We urge the Vietnamese side to refrain from further harassment, bear in mind the big picture of bilateral relations and regional stability, and stop disrupting and sabotaging China’s normal operations,” he said.
Vietnam accused China Tuesday of intentionally ramming and sinking one of their fishing boats near the Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands) in the South China Sea.
China, however, responded by saying that it was the fishing boat that rammed its fishing vessel but capsized afterwards.
“A Vietnamese fishing ship broke into the cordoned-off area of China’s drilling rig 981, and capsized after ramming into the rear port side of a Chinese fishing ship that was operating nearby,” Qin said.
He further blamed Vietnam for the incident saying that it was because of their continued resistance against China’s oil rig deployment.
“In spite of the repeated representations, warnings and dissuasions from the Chinese side, the Vietnamese side continues to forcefully disrupt the normal drilling operations of the Chinese company and take dangerous actions,” Qin said.
Several incidents of collisions between ships and boats of Vietnam and China have been reported over the past weeks after China deployed an oil rig near the Paracel islands which it claims as part of its inherent territory.
The oil rig deployment sparked anti-China protests in Vietnam, causing several deaths of Chinese citizens that were working in factories.
China has evacuated thousands of its citizens from Vietnam to escape the violence.
China claims the entire South China Sea including portions of the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
There have been several incidents of Chinese ships using water cannons against Filipino fishermen to deter them from going to the disputed Scarborough Shoal off the coast of Zambales and Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Group of Islands off Palawan province.
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