Allies, Economic Partners: Adversaries

"We are now fighting by peaceful means, by propagandizing against China's illegal invasion. In addition, we try to avoid any intentional clashes with Chinese vessels to minimize damages and casualties on our end."
Ha Le, Deputy Head, Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department

A Vietnamese fisheries patrol ship shows signs of damage that Hanoi says was a result of being rammed by Chinese vessels during recent encounters in the South China Sea, May 18, 2014. (PhoBolsaTV.com)

China and Vietnam have an uneasy relationship. And it is one that has become strained to the breaking point in the last short while, even though they have enjoyed robust trade ties and China has invested heavily in Vietnam. But on Sunday, after weeks of outraged condemnation of China's high-handed positioning of a huge oil rig on the waters near the disputed Paracel Islands, Vietnamese protesters have come out in droves in furious protests against China.

On Sunday, the increasing bad faith and anger between the two countries; China, because it sees Vietnam making a nationalist nuisance of itself; Vietnam because it sees its sovereignty flagrantly abused, led to four Vietnamese fisheries officers being wounded, after being hit by water cannons from Chinese vessels. Almost all of Vietnam's vessels have sustained damage from attacks launched by China's vessels in the dispute.

The close economic ties between the two countries aside, Vietnam, like the Philippines, like Japan and South Korea, are all simmering with resentment over China's bullying aggression, claiming its ownership of territorial waters traditionally claimed by its Asian neighbours. China's declaration of ownership of the airspace between itself in the East China Sea and Japan has infuriated Japan.
 

The city government of Tokyo's survey vessel sails around a group of disputed islands known as Senkaku

The two countries' long-standing dispute over the rocky oceanic outcroppings called Diaoyu and claimed by China, and named the Senkaku Islands by Japan claiming legal possession, has caused no end of frustration and threats. Japan claims a Chinese fighter flew within 30 meters of a Japanese surveillance plane above the waters where the two countries' air defence identification zones overlap.

 

Japan Coast Guard vessel PS206 Houou sails in front of Uotsuri island, one of the disputed islands


Last Thursday a protest in Ha Tinh province, Vietnam, turned violent at a steel mill, where 21 people were killed, 15 of them Chinese workers. Hundreds of Chinese workers have now been evacuated out of Vietnam. The Ha Tinh steel mill, attacked by outraged Vietnamese was a Taiwanese operation as were many of the 15 foreign-owned factories set ablaze, attacked and looted. Owned by Taiwanese and South Korean interests.

Hanoi and Beijing also, despite their economic ties have a long-running dispute over the Paracel Islands ownership located in the South China Sea. The two countries' relationship seemed to be on an even enough keel until a Chinese company towed an oil rig into the waters close by the Paracel Islands, with the stated intention of remaining there until at least August, triggering anti-Chinese sentiments.

China can weather the economic storm that has resulted, but it is questionable whether Vietnam will be able to, without lasting harm to its more fragile economy.