On 2nd May 2014, China placed its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Viet Nam, 120 nautical miles from the Vietnamese coast. At the same time, China deployed more than 80 ships, including many military vessels, and aircraft to threaten the law-enforcement forces of Viet Nam. Chinese ships also intentionally rammed Vietnamese ships, causing property damage and injuring several fishery surveillance officers of Viet Nam.

This constitutes a gross violation committed by China of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, sovereign right and jurisdiction of Viet Nam, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the sea, and the Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between China and ASEAN countries in 2002. It also runs counter to the commitments stated many times by leaders of the two countries.

In the past few days, the Viet Nam Women’s Union and the entire Vietnamese women were strongly discontented with such wrongful and dangerous action of China, which has seriously hurt the friendship between the two peoples, especially women of China and Viet Nam, as well as the trust forged by the two sides.

More than anyone, women understand and treasure the value of peace. In case of conflicts and war, women of the two countries will suffer the most.

On that note, the Viet Nam Women’s Union urges all international partners and women around the world, including Chinese women, to raise their voices for peace and justice, requesting the Chinese government to observe international law and immediately withdraw the drilling rig and its escorting vessels from Vietnamese waters.

The Viet Nam Women’s Union and the entire Vietnamese women will do their best to nurture international solidarity and friendship, contributing to the goals of Equality, Development and Peace established at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.

Viet Nam Women’s Union