Vietnam violating agreements(2)

Prior to 1974, none of the successive Vietnamese governments had ever challenged China's sovereignty over the Xisha Islands, and Vietnam officially recognized the Xisha Islands as part of China's territory since ancient times. This position was reflected in its government statements and notes as well as its newspapers, maps and textbooks. But now the Vietnamese government has gone back on its word by making territorial claims over China's Xisha Islands. That is a gross violation of the principles of international law, including the principle of estoppel, and the basic norms governing international relations.

Vietnam's provocative actions on the sea also run counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The DOC signed by China and ASEAN countries in 2002 clearly stipulates that there should be no actions by any party that may complicate or escalate the situation prior to a settlement of the dispute. All parties should respect and honor their commitments under the DOC. The Chinese company has been conducting explorations in the related waters for the past 10 years, including seismic operations and well site surveys. The drilling operations carried out this time are a continuation of the routine process of exploration and fall well within China's sovereignty and jurisdiction.

Vietnam has sent a large number of vessels, including armed vessels, to the site, illegally and forcefully disrupting the Chinese company's operations and ramming Chinese government vessels on escort and security missions there more than 1,500 times. Vietnam has also sent divers to the area, and dropped large numbers of obstacles, including fishing nets and floating objects, in the water. The provocative actions of the Vietnamese side are serious infringements upon China's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, grave threats to the safety of Chinese personnel and the Chinese drilling rig, and gross violations of the relevant international laws and the spirit of the DOC. Such actions undermine the freedom and safety of navigation in these waters, and have damaged peace and stability in the region.

Vietnam has violated the purposes of a series of agreements signed by Beijing and Hanoi and the consensus that had been reached by the two sides. In recent years, the South China Sea issue has become an important factor undermining the development of relations between the two countries. In order to promote the sustainable development of China-Vietnam relations, Beijing and Hanoi signed a six-point agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of existing maritime issues between the two countries in October 2011. The agreement says that both sides should remain committed to friendly consultations in order to properly handle maritime issues and make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.