The ships of Vietnam’s law enforcement force on Wednesday approached Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig at its new location in the East Vietnam Sea.
According to observations of Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG), after being moved 23 nautical miles east on Tuesday to a new location, the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig was still located there, and there was no signs of the next move.
The new location of the rig is at 15°33’38’’ North latitude and 111°34’62’’ East longitude, about 25 nautical miles east-southeast of Tri Ton Island, part of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea.
According to a quick report of the Bureau of Fisheries Inspection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ( MARD) on late Wednesday afternoon, China still maintained around 120 vessels of all kinds, including 36 of the Chinese marine police, 14 freighters and 17 warships, and four fighter jets in the area.
They were assigned to prevent, circle and intentionally collide with Vietnamese law enforcement and fishing vessels.
As reported by the VCG, with the number of 120 ship of all types, on Wednesday, China continued to arrange those vessels in various directions to 6-8 prevent Vietnamese forces from approaching the oil rig.
The ships are very mobile and ready to use high-velocity water cannons to spray, and ready for collision with Vietnamese ships.