Chinese vessels illegally expand operation area in East Sea

June 03, 2014 | 15:31

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Officials of the Viet Nam Coast Guard vessel 2016 was quoted by Tuoi Tre Online as saying that China may move the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-98, illegally placed in Viet Nam’s waters, to a new location.

A Chinese ship is firing water cannon at a vessel of the Viet Nam Coast Guard in Viet Nam's exclusive economic zone - Photo: VietNamNet

China also illegally widened the protection radius to 18 nautical miles, according to the newswire.

Chinese ships, including military ones, continued to intimidate Vietnamese vessels that were trying to enter as near as possible to the illicit rig to demand immediate withdrawal of the oil rig and its escort ships from the Vietnamese waters.

On June 2, vessel 2016 of the Viet Nam Coast Guard was heading towards the rig when it was pursued by a Chinese ship which tried to fire water cannons at it but the vessel 2016 managed to get rid of its rival.

VGP

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