Relations between China and Vietnam have undergone a subtle change following a series of provocative activities by Hanoi intended to disturb the normal drilling operations of a Chinese oil rig in the waters off China's Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands.

When the oil rig, or Haiyang Shiyou 981, owned by China National Offshore Oil Corporation, commenced operating in early May, the China Maritime Safety Administration issued a notice, demanding vessels avoid passing within a three-mile radius around the drilling site to ensure safety. In disregard of this notice, the Vietnamese authorities dispatched a large number of vessels, including armed ones, close to the site, and they have rammed China's civilian ships and disturbed the normal operations of the Chinese drilling platform.

The Vietnamese authorities also filed a protest, accusing the drilling operation of falling within "disputable waters" and violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Hanoi has made use of the so-called "collision incident" in the South China Sea incited by the media, to describe itself a victim bullied by China.

The Chinese oil rig is operating 17 miles away from Zhongjian Island, which belongs to China's Xisha Islands, this is 150 miles away from Vietnam's coastline. It is self-evident that the site falls into China's offshore waters and that the drilling operations are completely within the range of the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction and have nothing to do with Vietnam.

The Xisha Islands are a part of China's inherent territory and the drilling of the Chinese enterprise in its offshore waters is an internal affair that should be free from any outside interference. The normal and legitimate drilling operations in waters under China's jurisdiction is in compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and anything but a violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea as claimed by Vietnam. Facts prove that it is Vietnam, not China, who instigated the recent tensions in the South China Sea.

In the face of provocative activities from Vietnam, China has had to reinforce security precautions on the site to ensure the safety of those on the oil rig and the safety of operating equipment. To maintain China's normal maritime operations and ensure the safety of its operating vessels, equipment, personnel and navigation, it is justified for Chinese vessels to fend off bumping Vietnamese vessels.