Since China had chosen to deploy an oil rig on May 1, to a part of the South China Sea, heavy tension has increased between China and Vietnam. Referred to as a major strategic mistake, Vietnam authorities recently allowed anti-China protesters near the Chinese embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. According to Fox news, this protest grabbed the attention of nearly thousands of people, eventually turning into a full on riot. It was said that two Chinese nationals were killed and hundreds were injured.
As for why so much tension between Vietnam and China has been created, is because it is said to believe China was drilling in wells that belong to other nations. Already viewed as a Bully in the South China Sea, China continued to pursue it motives based off the fact that that oil rig is located deep sea near the Parcel island which is Beijing territory.
If this really is a strategic mistake it is up for interpretation, says assistant professor of Gov’t. and Public Admin at the Uni. of Macau Dingding Chen,who begs to differ on the topic. He argues that Vietnam should have saw this coming. China has already spent years and billions of dollars to create this oil rig and and the rig is in close proximity to the state thus China’s decision to locate the 981 oil rig actually makes sense.
China is in no position to make any more enemies due to its tension already with Japan and the Philippines, but China is not concern by the protest, and believes the protest will not affect them because Vietnam needs China for its economic stability. Chinese citizens work in Vietnam are affected the most and now because of the protest many are being shipped back. The protest turned riot caused Vietnam authorities to forcibly remove anti-china protesters away from the Chinese Embassy.
Will the situation diffuse itself?
