President speaks highly of Japanese investment; NA deputies hail PM Dung’s political view; Prime Minister wraps up Philippines visit;

 An international press conference was organised on May 23 in Hanoi to update reporters on information of the East Sea situation.

VietNamNet Bridge – The World Federation of Trade Unions has expressed solidarity and support for Vietnam in its peaceful moves against China’s aggressive act of illegally placing a drilling rig in Vietnam’s continental shelf

 VietNamNet Bridge – The White House said on May 22 the US would support Vietnam’s use of legal action against China to settle a territorial dispute following China’s illegal placement of its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in the East Sea.

 Viet Nam condemns attacks in Urumqi; Vietnam contributes to CICA conference; Senior army officer greets Venezuelan guests; Vietnam, Ivory Coast promote cooperative ties

 The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a press release announcing that it will hold an international press conference on the East Sea situation this afternoon.  

 VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh chaired a press conference in Manila, the Philippines on May 22 to announce Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s activities at the World Economic Forum on East Asia,

 Both leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines have voiced their strong support for the Vietnamese and Philippines governments’ common stance towards settling East Sea disputes peacefully in line with international law.

 VietNamNet Bridge – National Assembly (NA) Deputy Duong Trung Quoc said that the NA should issue a resolution to deal with issues surrounding the East Sea dispute with China.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Chinese administration, when launching its illegal acts in the East Sea, has been supported by its media, a special force that helps distort events in the region and fool people.

 VietNamNet Bridge –China’s deployment of an oil rig and its provocative activities in the East Sea will not do anything good for both Chinese and Vietnamese businessmen.

 National Assembly (NA) deputies have voiced their concern and objections to China’s illegal positioning of a drilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, demanding China immediately withdraw its rig from Vietnam’s waters.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign banks in Viet Nam appreciated the government's responses to the East Sea tensions, which helped them stay calm and confident, according to the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV).

 VietNamNet Bridge – National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said on May 20 lawmakers would be discussing the East Sea situation and exploring all legitimate measures to protect the nation’s sovereignty.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed that Vietnam is never the first to use military means and would never unilaterally start a military confrontation unless the country is forced to take self-defense actions.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III have shared their deep concern about the "current extremely dangerous situation in the East Sea".

 VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry on May 21 to discuss bilateral issues and recent developments in the East Sea.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Businesses affected by the disturbances in Ha Tinh, Binh Duong and Dong Nai will have their taxes and land rents waived, reduced or deferred, and receive other assistance, at the request of PM Nguyen Tan Dung.

 On May 21, China maintained the presence of 95 ships of various kinds, including a number of big tugboats, around its Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig which is illegally placed in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.

 The US opposes acts of coercion, intimidation and non-diplomacy in resolving territorial disputes.