Vietnam: Chinese ships ram vessels near oil rig

[yuiyoshida]

HANOI (AP)—Chinese ships have been ramming into and firing water cannons at Vietnamese vessels trying to stop Beijing from putting an oil rig in the South China Sea, according to officials and video footage Wednesday, in a dangerous escalation of tensions over waters considered a global flashpoint.

Several boats have been damaged and at least six Vietnamese on board them have been injured, officials said. The U.S. said it was strongly concerned by “dangerous conduct” in the area.

Elsewhere in the sea, the Philippines arrested 11 Chinese fishermen for catching endangering turtles, angering Beijing and further exposing regional strains.

China recently has been harassing Vietnam and Philippine vessels and fishermen in the potentially oil- and gas-rich waters it claims almost entirety—a shaky stance to many international law experts.

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001265328

[safeinOhio]

1. Hope this wasn't in

the Gulf of Tonkin.

Deja vu all over again.