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Vietnam’s Catholic bishops have condemned China’s deployment of a deep sea oil rig in a disputed area of the South China Sea.
“This situation can pose a high risk for a military conflict,” Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, said in a letter on behalf of the bishops.
“The Chinese government has to stop all its actions of invasion,” Archbishop Doc stated.
Citing Church documents, the letter stated the conflict must be settled peacefully.
It went on to say the Hanoi government must now “take a firm stance based on the principle of our traditional values of prioritising the interest of our people and our country”.
The bishops called on Catholics to express their patriotism by “fervently praying for the nation and actively taking part in activities defending the fatherland”.
The letter called on local Catholics to support sailors injured by Chinese vessels as well as fishermen who have suffered losses in Chinese attacks.
After the oil rig was deployed off Vietnam’s coast, Chinese and Vietnamese vessels have collided several times near the site, resulting in injuries.
The incidents are the latest provocations resulting from competing positions in Vietnam’s coastal waters, where China has become increasingly assertive in making territorial claims.
Anger and protests within Vietnam have risen to new post-Vietnam War highs. At least one Chinese worker has been killed and hundreds have been injured.
In several locations in southern Vietnam, protesters have set fires to factories believed to be Chinese-owned. China has evacuated more than 3000 of its nationals from Vietnam.
Thousands of Vietnamese had been allowed by their government to stage mass rallies. But a planned protest in Ho Chi Minh City on May 18 was abruptly stopped by security forces.
This came after Chinese government ministers put pressure on Vietnamese authorities.
In China, the state-run Global Times newspaper editorialised against Vietnam and the Philippines.
Both countries are involved in South China Sea territorial disputes with Beijing and these should be settled “in a peaceful manner”, the editorial stated.
“But that doesn’t mean China can’t resort to non-peaceful measures in the face of provocation from Vietnam and the Philippines,” it added.
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