China extends olive branch to Vietnam on sea dispute(2)

Vietnam is willing to work with China on maritime issues, maintain close communication, manage tensions, and handle issues properly, as well as confirming to the international community that Vietnam and China are able to resolve their differences by peaceful means, he said.

Sun Xiaoying, research fellow of Guangxi Academy of Social Science, told the Global Times on June 17 that she was not optimistic about the prospects of progress from the meeting between Yang and the Vietnamese side, as the Vietnamese government tends to resort to sophistry. On the subject of oil rig 981, Sun Xiaoying said that Vietnam had made many deep water drillings in disputed areas of South China Sea. It is not acceptable to China that it should be prevented from building one single oil rig in the area. Governments of the two countries can jointly develop some sea areas. For example, China National Offshore Oil Corporation marked out 9 zones for that purpose in 2012. China has showed its sincerity, and it is time for Vietnam to consider the situation.

On June 19, 2014, an article in People's Daily Overseas Edition emphasized that China is well-intentioned, and that Vietnam should return to the right track. It remains to be seen whether Vietnam will meet with China halfway. Just before Yang's visit, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung called for less dependence on the Chinese economy. Vietnam has used cooperation with foreign companies in oil and gas exploration to solidify its maritime interests, and it is eager to apply for international arbitration.

Though the difficulties in the China-Vietnam relationship were caused unilaterally by Vietnam, the Chinese State Councilor still came to Vietnam for the meeting, which confirms that China cherishes the friendship between the two peoples and is willing to solve the problem through dialogue. China has extended an olive branch to Vietnam, and Vietnam should seize the opportunity and make the right response.