Vietnam weighs legal action against China over disputed oil drilling

Vietnam is considering various "defence options" including legal action against China's deployment of an oil rig in waters in the South China Sea within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said on Wednesday.

A Chinese ship (left), protecting an oil rig, attacks a Vietnamese vessel with a water cannon on Viet Nam's continental shelf (Image: Vietnamnews.vn)

Vietnam's National Assembly also released a public statement late on the day urging China to withdraw the oil rig from waters claimed by Hanoi.

China's state-run oil company, CNOOC, is erecting a $1-billion deepwater rig, which it claims, is nearly 240 km (150 miles) off the coast of Vietnam. Hanoi, however, says the rig is within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and on its continental shelf (See: China bullies Vietnam by placing rig in disputed seas).

''China's deployment of the oil rig within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone is a serious violation of Vietnam's sovereignty rights,'' the statement said.

The National assembly thought of the unusual step of making public statements on foreign affairs, especially on a confrontation with China, after the Vietnamese authorities struggled to control public anti-China sentiment following news of the deployment of the rig earlier this month.

Protests erupted across the country last week, with some turning violent. So far Beijing has said two Chinese workers were killed, although unconfirmed reports suggest the death toll was higher  (Vietnam protesters trash Chinese-owned firms amid South China Sea dispute).

Dung's comments that for the first time suggested Vietnam would take legal measures in accordance with international law, came in a written response to questions from Reuters.

Dung, who was on a visit to the Philippines did not elaborate on the other options being considered. However, he said that while Vietnam had sought to use dialogue to settle the situation the response from China had been an increase in force and intimidation.

"I wish to underscore that Vietnam will resolutely defend its sovereignty and legitimate interests because territorial sovereignty, including sovereignty of its maritime zones and islands, is sacred," he said.

China claims about 90 per cent of the potentially energy-rich waters of the South China Sea that stretches deep into the maritime heart of Southeast Asia that is within the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The National Assembly's message on Thursday also addressed the Vietnamese public on the issue of the violent incidents that led to the evacuation of thousands of Chinese citizens from Vietnam.

''The National Assembly asks government ministries and comrades across the country to unite to preserve political stability, safeguard security, social order and facilitate a comfortable environment to successfully achieve the country's social, economic, security and defense targets,'' it said.

Vietnam's move follows the arbitration proceedings initiated by the Philippines in The Hague, late in March, challenging China's claims to the South China Sea. It is also perhaps the first time Beijing has been subjected to international legal scrutiny over the waters.

Beijing, however, refused to participate in the case and warned Manila that its submission would seriously damage ties. It also warned Viertnam against extending support to Manila over the issue.

The spat between Vietnam and China, the worst breakdown in ties between the two Communist states since a brief but bloody border war in 1979, has at least in part brought Vietnam to the US camp that includes countries like Malaysia and the Philippines.