About 90 Chinese vessels surround the illegal oil rig, preventing Vietnamese ships from approaching. Even Chinese fishing ships, armored with iron, have been used in deliberate clashes with Vietnam's fishing boats. Chinese aircraft continue to patrol the waters, intimidating Vietnamese ships.

On the afternoon of May 19 a Vietnamese ship tried to approach the oil rig with a group hoping to persuade the Chinese there to withdraw. Three Chinese ships immediately surrounded the official Vietnamese vessel and eventually rammed it. Vietnamese ship was forced to turn around to avoid being blasted with water cannons. Chinese ships continued to pursue the boat for five nautical miles.

Nguyen Van Hung, captain of a Vietnamese ship said, "We've always showed restraint during these incidents."

As such aggressive behavior continues to escalate, it seems that the Chinese side has no intention of withdrawing from Vietnamese seas.