Reports stated that the riots occurred as a result of Chinas oil and gas drilling activity in the disputed area of Hoang Sa archipelago in the South China Sea, which both China and Vietnam claimed to be their territory. Two Chinese nationals were killed and about 140 injured during the riots.
"The local governments where the riots took place will give compensation to owners of the damaged factories. Shortly after the May 13 incident, we had deployed security personnel at the Chinese factories in areas, such as Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Ha Tinh. We also arrested those who tried to provoke violence," the ambassador said when interviewed at his residence in Central Jakarta.
According to Thuy, the anti-China riots that occurred in several areas in Vietnam recently were not sponsored by the government, but rather they were patriotic acts of the citizens.
"Sadly, some people took advantage of the patriotic protests and provoked people to become violent," the ambassador said, adding that the damage suffered by the Chinese-owned factories included damaged entrance gates and transportation facilities.
Thuy reiterated the Vietnamese governments commitment to ensuring the safety of foreign enterprises and its staff working in Vietnam. He also called on foreign countries that had businesses in Vietnam to encourage their businessmen to stay in Vietnam and resume the production or investments in Vietnam.
However, Thuy voiced concern over Chinas drilling activity in the Hoang Sa (Xisha island) archipelago in the South China Sea, saying that the disputed area is located in Vietnams Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the continental shelf has been identified in conformity with 1982s United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He said the Vietnamese government has requested settling the dispute with China through negotiations and peaceful measures in conformity with international laws, including the UN Charter and 1982s UNCLOS.
Previously, the Xinhua news agency reported that the Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan had met with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh on May 19 to discuss about China-Vietnam bilateral relations, which had recently been interrupted by the anti-China riots in Vietnam.
"Vietnam has recently disrupted Chinas normal and legitimate oil drilling in Chinese territorial waters near the Xisha Islands and serious violence, including vandalism, looting and arson, targeting Chinese enterprises and nationals have occurred in Vietnam," Chang said.
Chang added that China firmly opposes and strongly condemns these acts of vandalism and that normal drilling operations in waters of Chinas Xisha Islands are Chinas rights, and nobody can block such activities.
"The Vietnamese should respect history, face up to reality and look at the bigger picture of China-Vietnam friendship instead of making repeated mistakes," he noted.
EDITED BY INE
(A051/INE/B003)
(T.A051/A/KR-BSR/B003)
Reporter: Amie Fenia Arimbi
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
