June 07 2011
Anti-China protesters march on a street carrying a placard referring to two largely uninhabited archipelagos claimed by both China and Vietnam, in Hanoi June 5, 2011. Up to 300 people shouting "Down with China" marched to the Chinese embassy in Vietnam on Sunday to protest against what they see as Chinese violations of Vietnam's sovereignty in the disputed South China Sea. The placard reads, "The Paracels and Spratlys belong to Vietnam".… Read more » REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Hundreds of Vietnamese gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Hanoi on Sunday to demand that China stay out of waters claimed by Vietnam, which a Chinese scholar said risked undermining bilateral relations.
Bearing signs such as "Protesting against China causing trouble," about 300 protesters gathered quietly for half an hour before peacefully dispersing at the request of 50 armed policemen who monitored the rally, AFP reported.
Vietnamese people hold a protest against China in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, June 5, 2011. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Sunday in Vietnam's capital in a rare protest demanding that China stay out of their waters following a spat involving a Vietnamese oil-drilling research boat in the South China Sea.… Read more »
(AP Photo/Na Son Nguyen)The rare protest came after Vietnam's allegation that Chinese surveillance ships had confronted a Vietnamese oil exploration vessel on May 26 in South China Sea waters, which are claimed by both China and Vietnam.
Hanoi claims that the ship, belonging to state-owned PetroVietnam, was conducting seismic research and accused Beijing of violating its sovereignty and breaching the UN convention on maritime law.
Vietnamese people hold a protest against China in front of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, June 5, 2011. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Sunday in Vietnam's capital in a rare protest demanding that China stay out of their waters following a spat involving a Vietnamese oil-drilling research boat in the South China Sea.… Read more »
(AP Photo/Na Son Nguyen)China has rejected the accusations, saying it opposes Vietnam's oil and gas exploration activities within waters under Chinese jurisdiction.
"Actions taken by China's competent authorities are regular maritime law enforcement," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement last month, urging Vietnam to make joint efforts to seek proper solutions to the rows.
The rare demonstration must have been approved tacitly by the Vietnamese government and is aimed at pressuring China on the South China Sea, Zhuang Guotu, director of the Center for Southeast Asia Studies at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Monday.
"However, I do not believe such acts are encouraged in Vietnam as this would risk undermining bilateral relations," he said.
The demonstration was staged a day after the ending of a three-day annual Asia-Pacific security forum in Singapore, which was attended by defense chiefs of over 20 countries in the region, including Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh.
During a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday, Liang said that recognized protocols of international relations, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and bilateral agreements on maritime cooperation should be observed during maritime security cooperation.
Phung told Liang that the two countries should resolve their differences over the South China Sea through bilateral efforts, and that no third country should be allowed to interfere in such efforts.
Speaking at the forum on Monday, Liang said the situation in the South China Sea was now stable and that "China is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea," according to Reuters.
"Vietnam definitely will not directly seek US intervention in the South China Sea, as this is firmly opposed by China and will complicate the situation. However, it is likely that Hanoi will use Washington's influence in the region to counter China's power," Zhuang said, noting that this is a strategy often favored by smaller countries.
Agencies – Global Times
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