China Insists on Keeping Oil Rig Operational in Vietnam Waters

General Fang Fenghui, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said on Thursday, May 15, 2014, that China would protect its oil rig, which is located in a contested territory with Vietnam. 

He added that Beijing will make sure that the oil rig continues to operate despite angry protests in Vietnam. 

The statement came following an anti-China protests in Vietnam that has killed one person and injured more than one hunder people.
 
"What we're going to do is ensure the safety of the oil rig and ensure the operation will keep on going," General Fang Fenghui said in a news conference after talks at the Pentagon.

Fang said that China had shown "restraint" within the contested area by setting up an oil rig just after other countries in the region had already started drilling. "I don't believe there is any problem with China doing this drilling activity within its own territorial waters," the general said.

Furthermore, Fang also pointed out that the United States strategy to "rebalance" Asia had been exploited by countries wanting to stall China's growing economic power. 

"Some of our neighboring countries did try to use this opportunity of the rebalancing strategy of the United States to stir up troubles in the South China Sea and the East China Sea," he said.

Source : Tempo