Whereas, on May 1, 2014, the People's Republic of China's state-owned energy
company, CNOOC, placed its deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig Hai
Yang Shi You 981 (HD-981), accompanied by over 25 Chinese ships, in
Block 143, 120 nautical miles off Vietnam's coastline;
Whereas from May 1 to May 9, 2014, the number of Chinese vessels escorting Hai
Yang Shi You 981 (HD-981) increased to more than 80, including seven
military ships, which aggressively patrolled and intimidated Vietnamese
Coast Guard ships in violation of COLREGS, reportedly intentionally
rammed multiple Vietnamese vessels, and used helicopters and water
cannons to obstruct others;
Whereas, on May 5, 2014, vessels from the Maritime Safety Administration of
China (MSAC) established an exclusion zone with a radius of three
nautical miles around Hai Yang Shi You 981 (HD-981), which undermines
maritime safety in the area and is in violation of universally
recognized principles of international law;
Whereas China's territorial claims and associated maritime actions in support of
the drilling activity that Hai Yang Shi You 981 (HD-981) commenced on
May 1, 2014, have not been clarified under international law, constitute
a unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force, and appear to be
in violation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the
South China Sea;

(4) calls on the Government of the People's Republic of
China to withdraw its Hai Yang Shi You 981 (HD-981) drilling
rig and associated maritime forces from their current
positions, to refrain from maritime maneuvers contrary to
COLREGS, and to return immediately to the status quo as it
existed before May 1, 2014.