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Tigers Burning Bright

Written by: Mandy Blankenberg

Recent developments in Vietnam may lead to war.

Vietnamese forces  were attacked by Chinese forces after Beijing dispatched an ‘illegal’ oil rig to a location in the South China Sea. Vietnam accused the Chinese government of invading its territory. Confrontation between the neighbouring countries caused a massive and violent outcry amongst Vietnamese, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation then moved the rig to the Paracel Islands, close to the Vietnamese border. China denied the claims made by the Vietnamese government, as they believe it only wants to disrupt Chinese oil manufacturing.

Before the massive outcry, Vietnam and China had an agreement… until Chinese boats were spotted on the Vietnam coast delivering an oil rig. The Vietnamese government immediately demanded that the Chinese government remove the rig. When Beijing refused, the Vietnamese took the law into their own hands and attacked Chinese nationals within their borders.

In 1979, the two countries engaged in a territorial battle that seemed never-ending. China invaded Vietnam on several occasions.

The rig                                                                                                                      

The two nations came to a peaceful agreement just several weeks before the oil rig was dragged to the Paracel Sea. They vowed to re-unite on slightly happier terms than the harsh circumstances in which they currently find themselves. China’s intent is to produce fuel from the South China Sea, which at present is not a definite and viable plan since it is not certain that the rig will produce oil that can be manufactured and sold. Another pending matter is whether this conflict may start a possible war over an issue that really is a ‘storm in a tea cup’.

Attacks caused by Vietnam government                                                                

Once the Vietnamese spotted the rig, the Chinese government was forced to evacuate Chinese citizens from Vietnam. The immigrants who escaped from China disrupted Vietnamese rule. Innocent citizens, who came to Vietnam to escape the oppression in China, were in for an even bigger shock when they arrived in Vietnam. The local government’s outrage toward the rig ignited a flare of patriotism among Vietnam’s citizens.

Protesters gathered at numerous locations in the financial district of Makati City. The citizens of Vietnam are fervently driven towards protecting their country against immigrants. This accounts for the protest and violence that followed as they feel they have to battle China, who they think is pushing to take over land that belongs to Vietnam.

Rig not in ‘borders’ of Vietnam

China maintains that the borders of the Paracel Islands belong to China. According to Vietnam, measurements prove that the border illegally belongs to China after the 1979 war. Both countries have installations on the islands, placing them in an awkward predicament.

The rig is approximately 241km from Vietnam, so the Chinese government believes that China owns the border… which it doesn’t, because Beijing made an agreement to the contrary.

The Chinese government is determined to prove that it really does have access to these territorial borders - or is it just causing an unnecessary wave of turmoil that could have far-reaching effects on the lives of both nations? Other neighbouring countries are still living in fearful anticipation as to whether these attacks will spread or not.

U.S. government worries about access to South China Sea

Political groups worry that they will lose their ownership over the Paracel Islands, so they are making thorough use of this chance to claim their rights, even if several people lose their lives. The Chinese government continues to stake claims whilst its citizens flee for their lives. Being part of such a geopolitical clash to determine ownership of a border must lead to an agreement between the two countries.

Vietnam suggested that China remove the oil rig and do proper measurements to ensure whether they own the territory or not. The Zhongjian Island is located near the Paracel borders, which forms part of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) border. This gives Beijing sovereign rights to the South China Sea and China possible legal authority to dispatch the oil rig to Vietnamese waters, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Start possible war

An unnamed protester said, “The two nations responsible for the protests should keep in consideration the amount of people dying due to political exposure between the two countries...and even come to conclusion on how to solve the issue as they will have to battle with more situations coming their way. The political issue has gotten so far out of hand that they have not yet come to a conclusion about whether they will stop soon or if there will be possible war, should attacks from Vietnam continue. If it continues at this rate, this might just end up in bloodshed once again.”

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