(VOVworld) – On Monday, China added two more ships to the escort for oil-rig Haiyang 981 that has been illegally deployed within Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf, bringing the total number of escort vessels there to 136, including 4 warships and one cargo ship.

The Chinese vessel's water cannon shoots at a Vietnamese vessel trying to protect Vietnam's national sovereignty. (Photo: Danviet)

Nguyen Van Trung, Vietnamese Deputy Director of the Fisheries Resources Surveillance Department, said that Vietnamese law enforcement vessels have escorted and supported Vietnamese fishing ships to ensure the safety of their crews while operating in their traditional fishing grounds. The Vietnamese law enforcement vessels have asked China to withdraw the oil-rig and its escort vessels from Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Trung said: “Chinese vessels have gathered in groups of 5 to 10 and co-operate with iron-clad fishing boats to circle and prepare to ram with Vietnamese fishing boats and law enforcement vessels 5 to 7 nautical miles from the oil-rig. Chinese vessels of large size and capacity have lined up to impede Vietnamese law enforcement vessels from protecting national sovereignty. Around 30 Chinese fishing boats encircled and intimidated Vietnamese fishing boats, but the Vietnamese fishermen are determined to stay on the fishing ground and continue to fish.”