OREANDA-NEWS. June 11, 2014. “As a result, not only economies of this region but even the whole world will be hurt by its unforeseeable consequences,” PM Dung warned, implying that the illegal operation of Beijing’s oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 (HD 981) in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) could bring consequences to the global economy.

Vietnam will never agree to swap sovereignty for any other things

When asked how Vietnam will respond to China's actions over its oil rig HD 981 in the former’s EEZ, premier Dung underscored that the independence and sovereignty of fatherland are sacred and inviolable, so Vietnam will never agree to swap them for any other things.

“Vietnam has and will do its utmost to defend the sovereignty over its waters by peaceful means,” Dung said. “Over the last month, we have made at least 30 communications with China to demand the latter withdraw its oil rig from the waters under the Vietnamese sovereignty.”

“As for military action, I once again underline that the consistent defense policy of Vietnam is peace and self-defense. We will only resort to military action when we are forced to opt for self-defense,” he told Bloomberg.

Also in the interview, PM Dung highlighted that China’s recent acts have seriously infringed Vietnam’s sovereignty, seriously violated international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea, and severely threatened regional peace and stability.

The Vietnamese government leader said his administration is considering legal action in conformity with international law. “We have prepared all evidence and legal dossiers. What we are considering is the appropriate timing,” he asserted.

Talking about the trade ties between Vietnam and China, PM Dung admitted that China’s infringement on the Vietnamese waters has to a certain extent impacted some sectors of the country’s economy but “Vietnam has adopted several appropriate solutions in response.”

 Vietnam sent note opposing China’s oil rig to the UN

According to the Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam’s permanent mission to the United Nations on Wednesday sent a letter to the organization’s Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, asking him to circulate a diplomatic note from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry to the Chinese Foreign Ministry as an official document of the UN’s 68th session of the General Assembly.

The diplomatic note, dated May 4, protested China’s refusal to end violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over its EEZ prescribed by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which both Vietnam and China are members.

In the note, Vietnam completely rejected the Chinese side’s statement that the oil rig HD981 is a normal oil and gas operation of China in the southern area of “Zhongjian dao” (Tri Ton Island) of so-called “Xisha Islands” (Hoang Sa [Paracel] archipelago of Vietnam) and has nothing to do with Vietnam’s continental shelf and EEZ.

Vietnam demanded that China immediately remove its oil rig and escort vessels from the Vietnamese waters and end actions that have affected navigation safety and security as well as peace and stability in the region.