A meeting that was supposed to have eased escalating tensions between Vietnam and China has failed.

China's insistence that its national sovereignty is non-negotiable is being seen by Vietnam as undeniable proof that China has no intention of withdrawing its oil rig from waters off of Vietnam's coast and that further negotiations appear fruitless.

Like Us on Facebook

Both sides met recently in Hanoi to seek a diplomatic solution to the unrelenting tension caused by China's insistence of owning virtually the entire South China Sea, including portions under Vietnam's control.

No progress was achieved in the Hanoi talks. Instead, the failed talks confirmed China's unbending position that it has the legal right to station its oil rig 120 miles off the coast of Vietnam and close to the Paracel Islands.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung insists that China has violated Vietnam's sovereignty, and pointed out that China has breached international and regional agreements on the South China Sea. The Chinese had also "hurt the feelings of the people of Vietnam."

Vietnam says the waters around the oil rig are its territory because they fall within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. On the other hand, China bases its claim on the waters' proximity to the Paracels.

China seized control of the southern Paracel Islands from South Vietnam in a war in 1974.

During the meeting, China's state councilor Yang Jiechi accused Vietnam of conducting "unlawful interference" in the operations of China's oil drilling rig.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry later warned Vietnam that China would "take all necessary measures to safeguard its national sovereignty." In diplomatic terms, this statement is an implicit threat of war.

Observers said China's virulent language was unusual for diplomatic statements. They said the statements by both sides indicated the meeting had failed.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry made no reference to the possibility of further negotiations, a fundamental diplomatic tenet usually resorted to by China in diplomatic squabbles.

During the fruitless talks, Yang, who is China's most senior diplomat and a former foreign minister, met with Prime Minister Dung and with Foreign Minister, Pham Binh Minh, and the general secretary of the Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong.

TagsVietnam-China relations, Oil rig, China oil rig