Vietnam Tells China To Remove Oil Rig From Disputed East China Sea Waters

Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shi You 981 (C) is seen in the South China Sea, off the shore of Vietnam in this May 14, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Minh Nguyen/Files

Reuters: Vietnam tells China to shift its rig and stop complicating ties

Vietnam demanded China move a controversial oil rig on Thursday and abandon plans to start drilling in waters where jurisdiction is unclear, the latest sign of festering unease among the two communist neighbors.

The $1 billion rig, which was at the center of a fierce diplomatic stand-off between the countries in 2014, had moved into an area of the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea about which Vietnam said the two countries were still "executing delineation discussions".

China calls the rig Haiyang Shiyou 981. Vietnam refers to it as Hai Duong 981.

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WNU Editor: China says no .... China rebuffs Vietnam criticism of oil rig move (Reuters)

More News On Vietnam Telling China To Remove Its Oil Rig From Disputed East China Sea Waters

Vietnam Demands That China Move Oil Rig -- AP
Vietnam Tells China to Remove Oil Rig From Disputed Waters -- WSJ
'Remove Oil Rig From Paracel Islands,' Vietnam Warns China as New Prime Minister Assumes Office -- China Topix
Vietnam Demands China Remove $1 Billion Oil Rig Amid Sovereignty Row -- Sputnik
Vietnam asks China to stop actions complicating East Sea situation -- Vietnam.net

Vietnam's Coast Guard Seizes Chinese Vessel In South China Sea

Flag of Vietnam Marine Guard flies near a ship of Chinese Coast Guard in the South China Sea, about 210 km (130 miles) off shore of Vietnam May 14, 2014. Reuters

IBTimes: Vietnam seizes Chinese fuel ship in South China Sea, arrests sailors

Vietnam seized a Chinese fuel vessel after it allegedly crossed into Vietnamese waters, the worst maritime face-off between the two claimants of South China Sea assets in recent weeks amid an ongoing 'fish war' in the waters of the region.

Vietnam's coast guard captured the vessel and towed it to the northern port city of Hai Phong along with its captain and two sailors, the Thanh Nien newspaper reported.

The Chinese ship was under the disguise of a fishing boat but it carried 100,000 liters of diesel oil when it was intercepted by the coast guard near Bach Long Vi island in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The state media said the sailors admitted they were carrying fuel for Chinese fishing boats in the region.

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More News On Vietnam's Coast Guard Seizing A Chinese Vessel In The South China Sea

Vietnam seizes Chinese vessel for intruding its waters -- AP
Vietnam’s coast guard seizes Chinese vessel, detains captain and crew, for territorial intrusion -- South China Morning Post
Vietnam seizes Chinese oil tanker: State media -- Channel News Asia/AFP
Vietnam Seizes Chinese Ship for 'Illegal' Entry in South China Sea -- NBC
Vietnam seizes Chinese vessel in South China Sea -- The Guardian

China Rejects Vietnam's Complaints That Its Landings In The South China Sea Threaten Regional Air Security

A photo released by Chinese official Xinhua News Agency shows a China Southern Airlines civilian plane landing Wednesday at an airstrip on the Fiery Cross Reef in a disputed area of the South China Sea PHOTO: HANDOUT/REUTERS

Reuters: China defends South China Sea reef landings after Vietnam complaint

Jan 11 China on Monday rejected a complaint from Vietnam that China had failed to notify it about flights to an island it has built in disputed waters in the South China Sea saying it was a China's territory and it did not need to notify anyone.

Chinese civilian aircraft have conducted several test landings on Fiery Cross Reef, one of three runways China has been building for more than a year by dredging sand up onto reefs and atolls in the Spratly Islands.

Vietnam and the Philippines have both objected to the flights and the United States, which has criticised China's construction of islands in the South China Sea, has expressed concern about an increase in tension in the region.

Vietnam says China's landings were on what it calls an "illegally" built reef, and has vowed to defend its sovereignty through peaceful measures.

Previous Post: Vietnam Accuses China Of Threatening Regional Air Security In The South China Sea

WNU Editor: This is not a settled matter. Expect the war of words between Vietnam and China to continue.

More News On China Rejecting Vietnam's Complaints That Its Landings In The South China Sea Threaten Regional Air Security

China rejects Vietnam's accusations over test flights in South China Sea -- Xinhuanet
China rejects Vietnam protests over plane landings in SC Sea -- Business Standard
Philippines follows Vietnam in opposing China's runway test -- Indian Republic
U.S., Philippines to discuss concerns over new Chinese islands -- AP

Vietnam Accuses China Of Threatening Regional Air Security In The South China Sea

BBC: Vietnam accuses China of threatening regional air safety

Vietnam has accused China of threatening regional air safety by conducting unannounced flights through its airspace to a disputed reef in the South China Sea, state media reported.

Forty-six such incidents were logged by aviation authorities in the first week of January, the reports said.

Protest letters have been sent to Beijing and the UN's aviation body.

Vietnam is among several nations challenging China's claims of sovereignty in the area.

WNU Editor: Vietnam is also going beyond just issuing protests .... Vietnam Deploys Submarines to Scare Off China in South China Sea (Breitbart).

More News On Vietnam Accusing China Of Threatening Regional Air Security In The South China Sea

Vietnam Says China’s Flights to South China Sea a Threat to Air Safety -- WSJ
Vietnam Asks International Aviation Community To Condemn China Over Spratly Islands Flights -- IBTimes
Vietnam warns China over air safety threat -- Inquirer.net
Border Guard report Chinese aggression in Vietnamese waters through 2015 -- Thanhnien News

Vietnam Protests China's First Flight And Landing On A Newly Constructed Airstrip In the Spartly Islands

AMTI

The Diplomat: Vietnam Protests as China Lands Civilian Aircraft on Newly Constructed Spratly Airstrip

The Vietnamese foreign ministry described the move as a “serious infringement” of its sovereignty.

The status of China’s artificial islands in the disputed Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea hit a new milestone on Saturday. China landed a civilian aircraft on Fiery Cross Reef, drawing a sharp reaction from the Vietnamese government. Le Hai Binh, a spokesperson for the Vietnamese foreign ministry, said that a Chinese aircraft had landed on the 3000 meter airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef. He added that the strip had been “built illegally on Fiery Cross Reef, which is part of Vietnam’s Spratlys.” Vietnam, along with China, Taiwan, and Malaysia, claims Fiery Cross Reef, which has seen extensive land reclamation and construction work since last year. China has occupied the reef since 1988.

Update #1: Vietnam protests after China lands plane on disputed Spratlys -- Reuters
Update #2: China Lands Test Flight in Disputed Island Chain (WSJ).

WNU Editor: China is not impressed .... China Rejects Vietnam Protest Over Sea Flight Test (AP)

Chinese President Xi Visits Vietnam To Soothe Territorial Disputes

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R), who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends a welcoming ceremony held by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong before their talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov. 5, 2015.(Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Wall Street Journal: China’s Xi in Vietnam to Bridge Troubled Waters

The two sides share similar ideologies and culture, but have drifted because of territorial disputes

HANOI—President Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam Thursday for a two-day visit that will remind Hanoi’s leaders that it is China, not the U.S., which is Vietnam’s most important economic partner.

The two countries share the same communist ideology and a similar culture, but have drifted apart in recent years in part because of bitter territorial disputes in the waters of the South China Sea. The presence of an oil drilling platform which a Chinese company had towed into waters also claimed by Vietnam last year triggered a monthslong standoff at sea and a brief wave of anti-Chinese riots before the rig was withdrawn.

Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong subsequently became the first Vietnamese party chief to visit the U.S. this year, while Vietnam has signed defense cooperation agreements with Washington and is also part of talks to establish the U.S.-led Trans Pacific Partnership trade pact.

More News On Chinese President Xi Visiting Vietnam To Soothe Territorial Disputes

Chinese president visits Vietnam to discuss stronger ties -- AP
China, Vietnam pledge to manage maritime differences -- Reuters
Vietnam to Visiting Xi: Don't 'Militarize' South China Sea -- VOA
Xi Arrives to Woo Vietnam Comrades and Reverse Drift to U.S. -- Bloomberg
Xi kicks off landmark state visit to Vietnam amid warming ties -- Xinhua News Agency
Xi, Vietnamese leaders agree to boost win-win partnership -- Xinhua News Agency

Vietnam Wants To Buy Western Fighter Jets And Drones To Counter China

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter (L) raises a toast with Vietnamese army generals after they signed the Joint Vision Statement during a ceremony at the Ministry of Defence in Hanoi June 1, 2015. Reuters/Hoang Dinh Nam/Pool

Reuters: Exclusive: Vietnam eyes Western warplanes, patrol aircraft to counter China

Vietnam is in talks with European and U.S. contractors to buy fighter jets, maritime patrol planes and unarmed drones, sources said, as it looks to beef up its aerial defenses in the face of China's growing assertiveness in disputed waters.

The battle-hardened country has already taken possession of three Russian-built Kilo-attack submarines and has three more on order as part of a $2.6 billion deal agreed in 2009. Upgrading its air force would give Vietnam one of the most potent militaries in Southeast Asia.

The previously unreported aircraft discussions have involved Swedish defense contractor Saab (SAABb.ST), European consortium Eurofighter, the defense wing of Airbus Group (AIR.PA) and U.S. firms Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Boeing (BA.N), said industry sources with direct knowledge of the talks.

Update #1: Vietnam sends message to China with bid to buy fighter jets and drones -- The Guardian
Update #2: US, Vietnam Deepen Defense Ties -- Prashanth Parameswaran, The Diplomat

WNU Editor: This is just more proof that an arms race is now underway in Southeast Asia.

China Sends Four More Oil Rigs Into Disputed Waters Claimed By Vietnam

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel (R) passes near the Chinese oil rig, Haiyang Shi You 981 (L) in the South China Sea, about 210 km (130 miles) from the coast of Vietnam June 13, 2014. Reuters/Nguyen Minh

Anger In Vietnam As China Sends Four More Oil Rigs Into Disputed Waters -- Irish Times

China has sent four more oil rigs into a disputed area of the South China Sea less than two months after it placed a giant drilling platform in waters claimed by Vietnam, ratcheting up regional tensions.

The largely unpopulated Paracel islands are administered by China but claimed by Vietnam, and they have become the flashpoint in an increasingly aggressive territorial row between the two neighbours, ideological allies as fellow communists but with stark divisions.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said the rigs were in waters close to Guangdong province and Hainan island. “There is no need to over interpret the recent deployment of four oil rigs in the South China Sea,” Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.

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Update #1: China Sends 4 Oil Rigs To South China Sea Amid Regional Tensions -- Business Insider/Reuters
Update #2: China Sends 4 Oil Rigs To South China Sea Amid Tensions With Vietnam -- IBTimes

My Comment: The Vietnamese will now have to respond to this provocation .... to not do so will be a tremendous "loss of face".

Vietnam Releases Video Of A Chinese Ship Ploughing Into A Vietnamese Fishing Boat In Disputed Waters

Caught On Video: The Moment Huge Chinese Ship Ploughed Into Vietnamese Fishing Boat In Disputed Waters In The South China Sea -- Daily Mail

* China has erected a gigantic oil rig supposedly in Vietnam's waters
* Tensions came to a head last week when a small fishing boat capsized
* Now footage appears to show Chinese ship steaming towards the vessel
* China insists it is not its fault - claiming Vietnam had 'created tension'

Dramatic footage has emerged of the moment a Chinese ship sparked a diplomatic stand-off by crashing into a much smaller Vietnamese fishing boat.

The vessels were in disputed waters in the South China Sea - where China has erected a giant oil rig - when they collided last week, ramping up tensions between the two nations.

Now Vietnam has released footage of the incident which it says proves the sinking was a deliberate act - but China still disagrees over what it shows.

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My Comment: No question about it .... that Chinese ship deliberately sank that fishing boat.

Fears Of A Second Sino-Vietnamese War Are Rising

A Chinese naval vessel prepares to set off for the South China Sea on Feb 28, 2013. (Photo/Xinhua)

Oil Rig Dispute Could Lead To Second Sino-Vietnamese War -- Want China Times

Escalating tensions between China and Vietnam has the world wondering whether the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979 could repeat itself, according to the latest edition of the Chinese-language international affairs newsweekly Yazhou Zhoukan.

More than 7,000 Chinese citizens have already been evacuated from Vietnam since anti-China riots broke out as a result of a standoff between Chinese and Vietnamese naval ships near a Chinese oil rig in disputed waters off the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on May 4

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My Comment: Both countries have a long and bitter history .... a history that for all intent and purposes is about to get worse as China makes a concerted move top enforce their territorial claims in the South China Sea. A prediction .... if significant oil deposits are discovered by this Chinese oil rig .... and if more Vietnamese fishing vessels are attacked .... expect the situation to become explosive.

Chinese Naval Vessels Attack And Sink A Vietnamese Fishing Boat

China Sinking Fishing Vessel Raises Tensions With Vietnam -- Bloomberg

Vietnam said a Chinese vessel sank one of its fishing boats, the most serious bilateral standoff since 2007 and a move that underscores China’s assertiveness in pushing its claims in the disputed South China Sea.

“It was rammed by a Chinese boat,” ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said by phone of the Vietnamese vessel. The 10 fishermen on board DNa 90152 were rescued by other Vietnamese ships after yesterday’s scrap, according to a Vietnamese government statement posted on its website. Some 40 Chinese fishing vessels encircled a group of Vietnamese boats in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, it said.

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More News On Chinese Naval Vessels Attacking And Sinking A Vietnamese Fishing Boat

China ship 'rams Vietnam fishing boat' in South China Sea -- BBC
Hanoi says Chinese boat sinks Vietnamese fishing vessel in disputed waters -- Reuters
Hanoi Says Chinese Ships Ram, Sink Vietnamese Fishing Boat -- Voice of America
Vietnam Boat Sinks in Clash Near China Rig -- New York Times
Vietnam accuses China of sinking fishing boat in disputed waters -- Deutsche Welle
China Flexes In South China Sea, Sinks Vietnamese Fishing Vessel -- IBTimes
Chinese Ship Attacks, Sinks Vietnam Fishing Boat -- Epoch Times

My Comment: Apparently 10 Chinese naval vessels surrounded and rammed this Vietnamese fishing boat .... even though it was 30 miles away from the oil rig. The Chinese are going out of their way to make a very blunt point to Vietnam that they mean business when it comes to enforcing their maritime borders.

What A War Between China And Vietnam Would Look Like

If Vietnam-China Showdown Turns Hot, Here’s How It Could Go Down -- Kyle Mizokami, War is Boring

Conflict between China and Vietnam is between a heavyweight and an underdog.

One of the oldest rivalries on the planet has flared up again, and it’s all because of where China placed an oil rig in the South China Sea.

The location of an oil rig might not seem like enough to start a war. But the two countries are in an aggressive standoff that—given the politics of the region and the shared history between the two countries—has the potential to turn violent.

But to understand what could happen next, it’s important to look at the history of conflict between China and Vietnam, and the military forces both sides have at their disposal.

Suffice to say, the latter is outmatched. But Hanoi is rapidly building up its military forces. Chinese and Vietnamese clashes are also not likely to end if one side backs down tomorrow. Here’s why.

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My Comment: Summarizing .... Vietnam does not have the military resources to confront China .... especially in the South China Sea. But with Vietnam now spending monies on anti-access capabilities .... in a few years China will be facing a formidable foe.

Report: Chinese Military Massing Near The Vietnam Border

A convoy of Chinese military vehicles are seen in Fangchenggang City in Guangxi City near the Vietnam border (Weibo)

Chinese Military Said To Be Massing Near The Vietnam Border (+Photos) -- Epoch Times

Troops, tanks, trucks, artillery, and armored personnel carriers of China’s military were seen heading to the Vietnamese border on May 16 and 17, according to photographs taken by by residents near the border.

Chinese netizens have been posting photographs of the large movement of the People’s Liberation Army, many of them showing Chinese troops in full combat gear heading to the local train station in Chongzuo, along with military vehicles.

One netizen said the Chinese military was taking the train from the Chongzuo station to Pingxiang City, which shares a 60-mile border with Vietnam. The netizen said that the Huu Nghi Border Gate to Vietnam is also now closed.

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Update #1: PLA troops spotted near China-Vietnam border -- Want China Times
Update #2: Large number of Chinese troops seen heading for China-Vietnam border -- China Daily Mail
Update #3: “Conflict Between China And Vietnam Is Imminent" - China Piles Troops, Tanks, Artillery And APCs Near Vietnam Border -- Zero Hedge

My Comment: The Chinese are not even hiding their deployment .... I guess they are sending a message to Hanoi.

After Days Of Anti-Chinese Rioting, Chinese Citizens Flee Vietnam

Beijing Evacuates Its Citizens From Vietnam After Days Of Anti-China Rioting -- McClatchy News

BEIJING — China has evacuated more than 3,000 of its citizens from Vietnam because of anti-China rioting there and is sending five ships to evacuate more, state-run Xinhua news service reported Sunday.

It was not immediately clear if Vietnam would allow the Chinese rescue ships to dock, given continuing skirmishes between the two countries over a disputed Chinese oil platform that ignited riots in Vietnam.

The first ship set off from Haikou in China’s southern-most province of Hainan at 8 a.m. Sunday (8 p.m. Saturday EDT), China’s Transport Ministry said in statement. It was expected to reach Vietnam within 18 hours.

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More News On Chinese Citizens Fleeing Vietnam

China retrieves citizens from Vietnam in wake of deadly riots sparked by controversial oil rig -- CBS/AP
China starts mass evac from Vietnam after getting taste of riots -- Japan Times/AFP
China Evacuates Thousands from Vietnam -- Voice of America
China Begins Evacuating Nationals After Vietnam Riots -- WSJ
Chinese ships reach Vietnam to extract thousands of citizens after deadly attacks -- CNN
Chinese Ships Evacuate Workers After Vietnam Riots -- AP
2,000 Chinese workers flee Vietnam after protests -- BBC
China, Taiwan Evacuate Citizens as Vietnam Tightens Security -- The Diplomat

Anti-China Riots Spread In Vietnam

Up To 21 Dead, Doctor Says, As Anti-China Riots Spread In Vietnam -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Up to 21 people were killed in Vietnam, a doctor said on Thursday, and a huge foreign steel project was set ablaze as anti-China riots spread to the centre of the country a day after arson and looting in the south.

The doctor at a hospital in central Ha Tinh province said five Vietnamese workers and 16 other people described as Chinese were killed on Wednesday night in rioting, one of the worst breakdowns in Sino-Vietnamese relations since the neighbors fought a brief border war in 1979.

"There were about a hundred people sent to the hospital last night. Many were Chinese. More are being sent to the hospital this morning," the doctor at Ha Tinh General Hospital told Reuters by phone.

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More News On Anti-China Riots In Vietnam

Anti-Chinese Violence Turns Deadly and Spreads in Vietnam -- New York Times
Riots in Vietnam leave 1 Chinese dead, 141 injured -- Washington Post/AP
Dozens killed in Vietnam anti-China protests -- Al Jazeera
Vietnam anti-China protest: Factories burnt -- BBC
Hundreds of Chinese flee Vietnam after riots targeting foreign-owned factories over 'power grab' by Beijing in disputed waters -- Daily Mail
Anti-China Riots in Vietnam Kill 2 as Workers Flee -- Bloomberg
Tensions Remain High in Vietnam Following Attacks on Foreign Factories -- Voice of America
China issues Vietnam tourist warning after riots -- Global Post/AFP
Vietnam-China Dispute Complicates Budding Business Ties -- WSJ
The Last Time China Got Into a Fight With Vietnam, It Was a Disaster -- David Stout, Time

China And Vietnam Battle In The South China Sea

China And Vietnam Clash In The South China Sea -- National Interest

East Asia was stunned last week when the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) moved its most advanced drilling rig to a gas and oil block 120nm from the coast of Vietnam. Reportedly protected by dozens of Chinese coast guard ships and - according to some reports - navy ships, the move caught Hanoi off guard. Vietnam quickly dispatched its own coast guard ships to confront the Chinese, which resulted in several collisions within the 3nm exclusion zone around the rig. Vietnam's options are constrained by its lack of military allies, ASEAN disunity and its relative naval weaknesses vis-à-vis China. Nevertheless, it cannot condone unilateral Chinese drilling in its Exclusive Economic Zone. In addition to its considerable diplomatic campaign to isolate China, the government of Vietnam should take CNOOC to court in Vietnam in response to China's move.

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More News On China And Vietnam Battling In The South China Sea

China Plays Cat and Mouse With Vietnam Coast Guard on Rig -- Bloomberg Businessweek
China and Vietnam at Impasse Over Rig in South China Sea -- New York Times
China Deploys Submarine Near Vietnam Oil Rig, 86 Vessels Now Present -- Zero Hedge
Sea turtles, cannons, and arrests: What's going on in the South China Sea? -- Ralph Jennings, Christian Science Monitor
China-Vietnam standoff at sea: What's at stake -- CNN
In the Deep, China Can Now Go It Alone -- WSJ

Anti-Chinese Protests Spread In Vietnam

Protestors Torch Factories In Southern Vietnam As China Protests Escalate -- CNN

(CNN) -- Anti-Chinese protests in Vietnam have turned violent with demonstrators setting on fire a number of factories in a southern Vietnamese industrial park.

Properties in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) I & II in Binh Duong were targeted Tuesday by thousands of protesters demonstrating over China's deployment of an oil rig into waters that both countries claim as sovereign territory.

Reports suggest the demonstrators targeted factories owned by Chinese firms, although CNN received a report that the arson was indiscriminate, with Korean-, Taiwanese- and Japanese-owned properties also torched by the angry mob.

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More News On Anti-Chinese Protests Spreading In Vietnam

Factories burned in anti-China protest in Vietnam -- FOX News/AP
Anti-China Protesters in Vietnam Damage Taiwan-Owned Companies -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Anti-China demonstrators in Vietnam torch foreign factories amid territorial dispute -- CSM
Vietnam mobs set fire to foreign factories in anti-China riots -- Reuters
Protests Target Chinese Factories in Vietnam -- VOA
Anger Grows in Vietnam Over Dispute With China -- New York Times
Anti-China Rioters in Vietnam Set Foreign Factories Ablaze -- NBC
China expresses 'serious concerns' over Vietnam violence -- Business Standard/AFP
China enacts "emergency mechanisms" after Vietnam protests -- Reuters
As Anger Over Chinese Rig Rises, Hanoi Has Few Options -- WSJ

China-Vietnam Maritime Border Dispute Is Heating Up After China Positioned A Giant Oil Rig In The Disputed Area

China, Vietnam oil rig dispute, near Paracel Islands

China Says Vietnam Efforts To Rope In Others On Spat Will Fail -- Reuters

(Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said Vietnam's efforts to garner support over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea would fail, a day after South East Asian leaders meeting for a regional summit in Myanmar refrained from criticizing Beijing.

Tensions rose in the resource-rich South China Sea last week after China positioned a giant oil rig in an area also claimed by Vietnam. Each country accused the other of ramming its ships near the disputed Paracel Islands.

"The facts prove that Vietnam is trying to rope in other parties and put pressure on China, (but) will not achieve its aims," China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news conference on Monday.

"We hope that Vietnam can see the situation clearly, calmly face up to reality, and stop harassing the Chinese operations."

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More News On The China - Vietnam Maritime Border Dispute

Vietnam, China Exchange Water Cannon Spray Near Disputed Oil Rig -- Voice of America
Report: Vietnam, Chinese Ships Fire Water Cannons -- AP
China, Vietnam at odds over oil in South China Sea -- Christian Science Monitor
China sends dozens of aircraft and vessels to Vietnam’s waters -- Vietnam.net
China and Vietnam at Impasse Over Drilling Rig in South China Sea -- New York Times
Vietnamese protesters target Chinese embassy -- CNN
Vietnam protesters attack China over sea dispute -- BBC
Vietnam Fails to Rally Partners in China Dispute -- New York Times
Vietnam cannot find support in dispute with China -- UPI
China-Vietnam standoff at sea: What's at stake -- Minxin Pei, CNN/Forbes
Why Did China Set Up an Oil Rig Within Vietnamese Waters? -- Ankit Panda, The Diplomat

Vietnam Accusses China Of Attacking Fishing Boats

Hanoi Says Chinese Shot At Boat -- Wall Street Journal

BEIJING—Vietnam accused a Chinese vessel of chasing and firing at a Vietnamese fishing boat in disputed waters on March 20, in the latest flare-up over the strategically important South China Sea.

Hanoi didn't say whether the Chinese vessel was a government craft; a state-run Vietnamese newspaper quoted the captain and owner of the fishing boat as saying it bore the markings of the China Marine Surveillance agency.

Chinese ships have clashed repeatedly with vessels from neighboring countries in the past two years as China has grown more assertive in its territorial claims. But they don't usually open fire—so this incident, if confirmed, could mark an escalation of tensions.

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More News On The Recent Maritime Clash Between China And Vietnam

China 'fired flares' at Vietnam boat in South China Sea -- BBC
China, Vietnam Clash Over Disputed Islands -- NPR
Vietnam accuses China of attack on fishermen in South China Sea -- Reuters
Vietnam demands fishing boat compensation -- UPI
China Says Its Flares Didn't Hit Vietnamese Boats -- ABC News/AP
China patrols disputed waters, denies firing on boat -- Global Post/AFP
China denies starting fire on Vietnamese fishing boat -- The Guardian
Chinese navy says "firing at Vietnamese boat" fabricated -- Xinhuanet (China)
Flares, gunshots, and fires, oh my: The latest South China Sea accusations fly -- Christian Science Monitor
Fire-Gutted Vessel Highlights Vietnam-China Maritime Dispute -- Voice of America

China Issues Warning To Vietnam To Stop Oil Exploration

China Tells Vietnam To Halt Oil Exploration In Disputed Waters -- Reuters

* China disputes Vietnam's account of incident last week
* China repeats warning against "unilateral" oil and gas exploration
* South China Sea is one of Asia's most sensitive military hotspots

BEIJING, Dec 6 (Reuters) - China told Vietnam on Thursday to stop unilateral oil exploration in disputed areas of the South China Sea and not harass Chinese fishing boats, raising tensions in a protracted maritime territorial dispute with its neighbour.

Vietnam had already expelled Chinese fishing vessels from waters near China's southern Hainan province, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.

Hong's description of the confrontation last Friday was in contrast to the account by Vietnam, which said a Vietnamese ship had a seismic cable it was pulling cut by two Chinese fishing ships.

"Vietnam's statement is inconsistent with the facts," Hong said.

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More News On The Territorial Disputes Between China And Vietnam

China Warns Vietnam to Stop Oil Exploration in Disputed Region -- Voice of America
China urges Vietnam to stop unilateral oil, gas exploration in South China Sea -- Xinhuanet
Beijing Rebukes Hanoi on Oil -- Radio Free Asia
Vietnam ordered to halt oil search -- Scotsman
Beijing rejects Hanoi's fishing boat allegation -- China Daily
China warns Vietnam to stop oil exploration -- Today Online
South China Sea: China, Vietnam Clash Over Oil Exploration, Fishing -- International Business Times
South China Sea: Going to Get Worse Before It (Might) Gets Better -- Joshua Kurlantzick, Council On Foreign Relations

My Comment: Everyone knows that the Vietnamese are not going to listen to the Chinese .... so what is next? To save face, China will now have to do something.