In this May 7, 2012 file photo released by China’s Xinhua News Agency, CNOOC 981, the first deep-water drilling rig developed in China, is pictured at 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Hong Kong in the South China Sea. Vietnam warned China on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, that it would take all necessary measures to defend its interests in the South China Sea if Beijing does not remove the large oil rig from waters claimed by both countries. AP
BEIJING — China is sending five ships to Vietnam to speed up the evacuation of its citizens following deadly anti-Chinese riots over Beijing’s deployment of an oil rig in disputed waters.
The official Xinhua News Agency says that the first ship departed Sunday morning from the southern island of Hainan.
China’s Foreign Ministry says more than 3,000 Chinese have already been evacuated from Vietnam following the riots this past week that left two Chinese dead and injured about 100 others.
Vietnam ordered a stop to anti-China protests and in the capital, Hanoi, on Sunday police pushed away a handful of protesters and journalists in front of the Chinese Embassy.
Vietnam has protested China’s positioning of the oil rig in the South China Sea and has sent ships to confront China’s vessels.