Viet Nam News Agency: Please advise Viet Nam's reaction to the news on China Maritime Information Radio that Nanhai 215 Vessel has hauled oil drilling platform KANTAN 3 of China to the continental shelf of Viet Nam.

Answer:

According to China Maritime Information Radio, the oil drilling platform KANTAN 3 of China, hauled by the Nanhai 215 Vessel from Shanghai to an area with the coordinate position of Latitude 17o26’42" N and Longtitude 108o19’05" E, 63 nautical miles off the coast of Viet Nam and 67 nautical miles off the coast of China’s Hainan Island, is to operate from 19th November to 31st December 2004.

According to international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, this area lies entirely within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Viet Nam. That China puts its oil drilling rig into operation in this area is a serious violation against the sovereign rights and national jurisdiction of Viet Nam.

Prompted by the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, Viet Nam has contacted China and requested her to strictly abide by the agreements reached between the two parties, not to move KANTAN 3 oil drilling platform to the above-mentioned area and to refrain from complicating the situation in detriment to the bilateral ties.

Source: Press and Information Department - MOFA