China Moves Second Oil Rig Near Vietnam Raising Tensions

China is sending a second oil rig near Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea. The move appears to increase tensions between the two countries in the area known as the East Sea in Vietnam.

China’s Maritime Safety Administration said the state-owned oil company China National Offshore Oil Company operates the rig. It said the rig will arrive south of the Chinese island of Hainan Friday.

It is not clear if the oil platform will be placed in waters claimed by Vietnam. However, the move is considered likely to raise tensions in the territorial dispute, which intensified last month.

In May, China deployed its largest oil rig to an area close to the disputed Paracel Islands. Anger over the move caused deadly anti-Chinese protests in Vietnam and led to dangerous clashes between ships at sea.

China has competing territorial claims in the South China Sea with several nations. They include the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop told VOA that she hopes all countries involved in the dispute can reach a negotiated settlement.

“Australia does not take sides in specific disputes, but we call on parties to negotiate and to resolve the issue in accordance with international law. The countries of ASEAN are proposing a code of conduct with China and we support that policy decision.”

China’s decision to deploy a second rig came after this week’s high-level talks with Vietnam in Hanoi. Chinese and Vietnamese leaders failed to resolve the dispute.

During the talks, China’s top diplomat Yang Jieche told Vietnam to stop increasing disputes over the Paracel Island group. He called the islands part of, in his words, “China’s inherent territory.”

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Mr. Yang on Wednesday. He said China is violating international law, and he called for the withdrawal of the rig. The structure is expected to remain in place until the middle of August.

Vietnam said Chinese ships sank one of its boats and damaged 24 others injuring 12 people. China accused Vietnamese ships of aggressive action, striking Chinese vessels in the area 120 times since May.

This story is written by William Gallo and adapted by Mario Ritter for VOA Learning English.

词汇解析

unity

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.整体;统一;一致;结合

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

These works, taken together, are essentially a unity.

这些作品，放在一起，基本上是一个整体。

religious

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.宗教的;虔诚的;严谨的;信奉宗教的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

Secular music refers to music which is not religious.

世俗音乐是指非宗教的音乐。

He was religious in his attendance at class.

他上课仔细听讲,毫不分心。

strategic

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.战略的;重要的;基本的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

We made a strategic withdrawal, so that we could build up our forces for a renewed attack.

我们作了一次战略性退却，以便我们能积蓄力量再次进攻。

At this meeting we grappled with the most important, strategic issues in our economic relationship.

在本次会议期间，我们重点讨论了两国经济关系中最重要的战略问题。

advance

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

n.前进;进展;预付金

v.前进;预付;增长;推进

adj.预先的;提前的

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Advance in the jungle was very slow.

在丛林中行进很慢。

用作动词 (v.)

The officer directed them to advance.

指挥官命令他们前进。

用作形容词 (adj.)

There was no advance warning before the earthquake hit.

地震之前没有任何预兆。

govern

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.统治;支配;管理;规定;控制

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive: easy to govern but impossible to slave.

教育让一个民族容易被领导，却很难被驱使;容易被统治，却很难被奴役。

diverse

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.不同的;多种多样的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

They are the people from diverse cultures.

他们是些有着不同文化背景的人。

opening

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

n.开口;开始;张开;开幕;空缺

adj.开头的

动词open的现在分词.

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

He scraped through the narrow opening.

他勉强钻过狭窄的开口处。

用作形容词 (adj.)

His opening remarks are applauded by the audience.

他的开场白受到听众的鼓掌欢迎。

contain

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

vt.容纳;包含;抑制;克制

vi.自制

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

The atlas contains forty maps.

这个地图集有四十幅地图。

用作不及物动词 (vi.)

She couldn't contain herself for joy.

她高兴地难以自制。