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The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Le Thi Thu Hang
Vietnam is closely watching the news that the Hai Duong Geological Survey 8 and several Chinese maritime vessels appear to be entering Vietnamese waters, experts said.
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On April 14, Vietnamese diplomatic spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang responded to the Thanh Nien newspaper when asked about the news from the Chinese ship group.
“Vietnamese authorities closely monitor developments in the South China Sea. Vietnam recommends that countries comply with the relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, international law in their activities. Activities and contribute to peace, stability and cooperation in the South China Sea. “
This statement does not appear to officially confirm the activities of the Chinese ships.
However, some news that circulated on April 14 suggested that a Chinese ship was in the South China Sea.
“There are three sources, one of which is on the website of the Great Story of the South China Sea, of which I am a member, said the tracking was not detected in another application, Marine Traffic, but based on another application, the Hai Duong 8 geological ship was found along with some Chinese sea vessels and some fishing vessels to follow and enter Vietnam, “Hoang Viet Lawyer, University of Law, National University of Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh told the BBC.
“In addition, two other independent research groups in Vietnam that use other applications also follow and share the same information, which is why our colleague, observer Dang Xuan Duan said that These ships are heading to Cross Island.
“It is not clear what China’s next move will do, but it is highly likely that China will repeat the 2019 situation in the Vietnam maritime area, that is, that they provide trains, including Hai.” Duong Dia Chat 8 and other maritime vessels invaded the seas of Vietnam during the period of more than one hundred days. “
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In October 2019, the Chinese Geological Survey ship Hai Duong 8 left the Vietnam Exclusive Economic Zone after more than three months of study here.
Cause a difficulty
On the same day, another researcher from the South China Sea, Dinh Kim Phuc, told BBC News Vietnamese:
“Compared to the survey of China’s Geological Ocean 8 ship in the four months of 2019, this time I think they continue with the so-called ‘ocean survey’ in exchange for what they say is ‘scientific research’, but the main thing is to occupy the South China Sea.
“These actions cause difficulties for Vietnam and other countries in Southeast Asia, because according to the law of the sea, if they go through ‘peace’, they do not provoke, they do not fight, although there are customs forces and customs officers who accompany them who are fleets of ships of war disguised in civilian colors, making it very difficult to deal with this fleet.
“Because according to international maritime law, if they are carried out without damage, they only conduct scientific and technical surveys,” it is also very difficult to raise our voices to denounce and agitate public opinion in the world.
“But if I believe that the Vietnamese maritime fleets have been deployed since the afternoon of April 13 at sea, to accompany this Geological Ocean 8 ship, I believe that Vietnam will continue to act against the four. only in the month of 2019 “.
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Geological Ocean Ship 8
Movements and motives?
Regarding the specific actions of the Chinese ship group, marine law researcher Hoang Viet told the BBC:
“The updated information can be found on the East Sea History Project page as a source, but the information known to date is that the Chinese side has the Geological Ocean Ship 8 and various shipping numbers. The scenario where Dai Su signed the South China Sea project based on many sources can be found.
“Among them are the family maritime vessels that have infringed the waters of Vietnam in 2019 that accompany this Hai Duong ship and are heading towards the waters of Vietnam.
“Information about the Project indicates that one ship has also entered the Nha Trang area, and the other has entered the Binh Dinh area.
“As previously mentioned, it is not clear what China will do now, but with the possibility that at this rate, China can enter and penetrate the territorial waters of Vietnam and according to their personal criteria. In my opinion, it is highly likely that China is trying to take advantage of this Covid-19 disease opportunity, that all countries are focusing on fighting this disease and, secondly, that the world’s naval power is the United States as well. faces certain difficulties.
“In particular, there was the Covid-19 infection in the recently visited Roosevelt aircraft carrier in Vietnam and the latest incident was the death of a sailor, which did not cause loss of power, but hindered activity. Operations in the United States are numerous and the United States has also declared reducing foreign operations.
“In this context, I think China has added two problems, firstly, the relationship between Vietnam and China is developing more and more and especially in the last event, when Vietnam’s fishing vessels were attacked. Chinese maritime ships sank, the American side was very active, in which the State Department and the Pentagon, the United States Department of Defense, followed by the five United States senators, spoke in condemnation of the Chinese boats that stab this Vietnamese fishing boat.
“And that is what China does not like, because China does not want Vietnam to go with the United States to go against China, that is what China thinks.”
Furthermore, as a recent note dated 3/30/2020, Vietnam was also fierce and determined to take an oppositional position, so I think with the above things China doesn’t like it and adds to the context. At this point, China is trying to be a deterrent, in addition to warning Vietnam perhaps in that way.
“And if so, this time we will monitor and examine the performance of Chinese ships.”
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Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong receives Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2017 in Hanoi
Reaction and coping?
For his part, researcher Dinh Kim Phuc commented to the BBC about the response and response from Vietnam:
“When the eighth ocean geological ship entered the South China Sea area, as I know, at 11 pm on April 13, when they passed the Quang Tri province area with Thua Thien – Hue, the fleets of functional ships Vietnam has also set out to monitor the operation of its Hai Duong fleet.
“This year, 2020, the Vietnamese government’s attitude towards China’s provocative and aggressive actions will be stronger.
“The dominant press in the country is also free to publish information that it describes in detail.
“On March 30, Vietnam sent a note to the Committee of the United Nations Continental Shelf Commission to protest all of China’s claims in the South China Sea and also to protect the sovereignty of Vietnam.
“Vietnam still fulfills the fight to defend its sovereignty by peaceful means, but Vietnam began to use technical details at the 1982 UN International Convention on the Law of the Sea – Unclos. With the current situation and capabilities of Vietnam.
In addition, bringing the fleet under the command of the Liaoning fleet to regional waters, bringing the Hai Duong geological and maritime vessels to the South China Sea is China’s response to the response. The United States defending, defending to Vietnam continuously and implying that the United States provokes aggressive action, bypasses China’s sovereignty claims over the South China Sea. “
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Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh
‘Not out of the forecast’
On April 14, from Hanoi, former Head of the Border Committee of the Government of Vietnam, Dr. Tran Cong Truc commented with the BBC on China’s new developments in the South China Sea:
“I just heard this news through the reflection of the international and foreign press, but the local media have not heard anything.
“The information should continue to be monitored and verified more fully, but in my opinion, the possibility of this movement and, if so, is not beyond expectations.”
VN: The East China Sea is ‘new, unprecedented’
The press, say the media?
On April 14, the Reuters news agency in a story related to Asia and the East Sea area said:
“A Chinese ship that was involved in a confrontation with Vietnamese ships last year returned to waters near Vietnam when the United States accused China of promoting its presence in the South China Sea, while the other complaining countries are upset by the corona virus disease.
“On Tuesday, this ship (Hai Duong 8), used for seismic surveys on the high seas, reappeared at a distance of 158 km off the coast of Vietnam, within the exclusive economic zone. (EEZ), accompanied by at least one Chinese Coast Guard, according to data from Marine Traffic, a shipment tracking website.
“At least three Vietnamese ships have been moved by Chinese ships, according to data on the website.
“The presence of Geological Hai Duong 8 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone occurs when the 15-day period of national social separation in Vietnam is expected to end, with the aim of curbing the spread of spread of the coronavirus in Vietnam.
“It also followed the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat near the islands in disputed waters this month, an action that sparked opposition from Vietnam and accusations that China had violated the law, violating sovereignty and threatening the lives of fishermen.
“The United States last month sent an aircraft carrier to the central port of Vietnam, saying it was” seriously concerned “about the sinking of Vietnamese fishing vessels by the Chinese ship.”
