The White House has described China's placement of an oil rig in Vietnam’s waters as a provocative act and warned Beijing not to raise tensions in the region.

Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang on Saturday talked on the phone with his Chinese counterpart Guo Sheng Kun over recent spontaneous protests against China’s illegal placement of its HD-981 rig in Vietnam’s waters.

 VietNamNet Bridge – As a sitting member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), China should cease its act of aggression and readily agree upon a dispute settlement mechanism.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 200 Vietnamese living and studying in Melbourne, Australia and Australian friends, joined a peaceful demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne to protest China’s illegal rig in Vietnam’s waters.

On Friday China raised the number of ships to protect the HD-981 rig that is anchored illegally in Vietnam's waters from 99 to 126 units, mainly iron fishing ships, said Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, Deputy Director of the Fishery Control Department.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Nearly 2,000 Oversea Vietnamese and French people gathered in Trocadéro Square in Paris on May 16 evening to protest against China's illegal rig in Vietnam's water.

 Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa, has spoken out over the tensions in the East Sea caused by illegal placement of Chinese oil rig in Vietnamese waters.

 Despite threats from Chinese ships surrounding a drilling rig illegally placed in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, fishermen are going out to sea.

 Deputy PM pays tribute to sunken ferry Sewol victims; President clarifies Vietnam’s East Sea stance with voters; Investors’ interests to be guaranteed in Vietnam; Vietnamese in RoK protest against China’s provocation

Members of the Mexico–Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group and Mexican Chamber of Deputies have expressed their support to Vietnam’s legitimate rights and criticised China’s wrongful acts in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

VietNamNet Bridge – Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh: "If China continues its aggressive actions, Vietnam has enough strength and measures to cope with it."

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds artists are set to perform the Vietnamese national anthem, along with and other songs, in a patriotic attempt to call attention to the East Sea crisis.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The European Union (EU) encourages good faith participation by Vietnam and China in dialogues to resolve the East Sea issue.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on May 15 had a meeting with voters in Hong Bang district, Hai Phong, during which they expressed their anger at China’s recent act of deploying a drilling rig in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Vietnamese people in Malaysia protest to China’s illegal action; Vietnamese in Bulgaria condemn China’s actions; Vietnamese people in UK protest China’s actions

 Vietnam will use every appropriate measure to safeguard its sovereignty in the East Sea, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh has said.

 VietNamNet Bridge - In its confrontation with China, Vietnam has two things going for it that China has no hope of laying claim to:  the legal and ethical high ground.

 Peace organisations oppose China’s act; Business community hits out at China’s illegal act; International friends denounce China's illegal action: paper; Union urges continued fishing activities in East Sea

Sharing updated information on the East Sea, joining demonstrations against China's provoking activities, calling on Vietnamese to unite to protect the territory – Vietnamese students have followed different paths to show their patriotism.

 VietNamNet Bridge - As of Tuesday, China is using up to 86 vessels to protect the oil rig it has illegally deployed in Vietnamese waters.