Vietnam poised to sue China in court over East Sea tension The government is preparing necessary filings to bring China to the International Arbitration Court if China does not withdraw its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.  The information was revealed by Nguyen Hanh Phuc, Chairman of the National Assembly Office in a May 24 interview with the media on the sidelines of the ongoing National Assembly session. Phuc said after examining a Government report on the East Sea situation, lawmakers voiced their support for measures being taken by the government.   Chairman of the National Assembly Office, Nguyen Hanh Phuc, answering questions from the media. In a May 21 interview granted to the Associated Press and Reuters, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung did not rule out the possibility of taking legal actions, in accordance with international law, to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.   A Chinese ship firing at Vietnamese fisheries resource surveillance boat attempting to approach the rig Phuc told the media that Vietnam respects peace and its value, because it endured untold suffering and losses of the past invasive wars. “We do hope Vietnamese and Chinese people will enjoy a peaceful environment for cooperation and national development,” he said. “Upholding our predecessors’ tradition, we must be very tactful to resolve the East Sea issue, mindful of the importance of maintaining the time-honoured friendship between the two countries.” Phuc also revealed the National Assembly will issue either a resolution or a statement depending on developments of the situation. According to him, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed 26 contacts and meetings with the Chinese side, but only a meeting with the Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister had been arranged. Phuc said China, the world’s second largest economy, should change its attitude, or it will lose its reputation globally. He thanked the Hoa (Chinese) community living in Vietnam for decrying the Chinese government’s illegal placement of its oil rig deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. “We value contributions to national development by Vietnamese people of Chinese origin. We welcome their support.  “Many of Chinese employees of Chinese-invested projects have expressed their desire to continue staying and working in Vietnam. The Party and State welcome and pledge to create conditions for them.” VOV