China and Vietnam-owned vessels again clashed on Monday near a Chinese oil rig that has been set up in a part of the South China Sea that is being claimed by both countries.

According to Vietnamese Coast Guard, the incident left two Vietnamese sailors injured and their Fisheries Surveillance ship KN-951 severely damaged.

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Vietnam TV reports indicate that seven Chinese vessels pursued the Vietnamese vessel 11.5 nautical miles south-southwest before one of them rammed into it. Further reports say that two Chinese tugboats 284 and 285 and a maritime patrol ship No. 11 blocked the Vietnamese vessel steadying it on one side where tugboat named Xinhai 285 rammed into it, rendering serious damage on the ship.

On the other hand, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying claimed at a news briefing the day after the incident that the Vietnamese vessel breached a Chinese security barrier and rammed a Chinese boat.

Since the oil rig was deployed on May 2, the two countries have had several similar incidents at the site where Vietnam claims territory saying the rig was within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. China, however, declares that the China National Offshore Oil Corporation is simply carrying out normal activities on Chinese waters and is entitled to execute drilling there.

Meanwhile, a large fleet of armed Chinese vessels, including military ships and aircraft, were seen positioned 80 miles deep inside Vietnam's continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

For the time being, Vietnamese fishing boats continue to operate their traditional fishing vicinity about 25-40 nautical miles from the rig despite reports of a regular harassment from 38 Chinese vessels guarded by coast guard ships coded 46102 and 46106.

The incident happened less than a week after Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh discussed the issue at a meeting in Hanoi where, so far, no progress has been made.

TagsVietnam