China Accuses Vietnam of Ramming Ships Near Rig in Disputed Seas
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China is “deeply shocked” by Vietnam’s “disruption” to its drilling in the South China Sea, during which Chinese ships were repeatedly rammed, a senior official said in Beijing today.
China has maintained restraint in the face of provocations by Vietnam, whose ships deliberately collided with Chinese boats 171 times since May 3, Yi XianLiang, China’s Deputy Director General of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, told a press briefing. Vietnam yesterday said Chinese boats had rammed Vietnamese vessels, fired water cannon and used low-flying aircraft in a confrontation over China’s exploration rig close to the Paracel Islands that are claimed by both countries.