Late Thursday, after Hanoi accused China of intentionally cutting exploration cables of a survey vessel, chartered by state energy giant PetroVietnam, and seriously violating Vietnam’s sovereignty, Beijing denied the truth that Chinese ships harrased Vietnam’s vessel. Beijing even hit back, making up false accusation of Vietnam “gravely violating" its sovereignty.
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China ship (in the red circle) was rushing into Vietnam’s survey vessel Viking II with aim to cut its exploration cables. The incident was “premeditated and carefully calculated”. Photo: Petrotimes
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The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei brazenly issued the condemnation of Vietnam, saying China was just a victim in the latest encounter in which a Chinese fishing boat was chased away by armed Vietnamese ships on Thursday morning when it was operating in the Spratly archipelago and surrounding waters. Amid the chasing turmoil, the Chinese fishing boat became entangled with the cables of the Vietnamese vessel and was dragged along for over an hour.
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The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was issuing perverse and untruthful statements.
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The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei unruly accused Vietnam was operating illegally its oil and gas surveys in the above waters, violating China's claim on the Spratly archipelago and nearby seas, which was obviously undetachable territory of Vietnam.
"China demands that Vietnam cease all violations," he said, adding that Vietnam should "not take actions that would complicate and expand the dispute."
Accusation of China was blatantly groundless and calumnious.
. BDO | 
