Tension in the South China Sea has escalated since May 2 with Beijing insisting on placing an offshore oil drilling platform known as HD-981 accompanied by a number of military vessels to carry out activities within Vietnam's claimed exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. On May 3, Chinese marine vessels assisted by PLAAF aircraft attacked a Vietnamese Fisheries Surveillance and Coast Guard vessel.  

Hundreds of Vietnamese demonstrated on May 11, throughout Vietnam to protest against what they termed Beijing's "imperialism" in the South China Sea. Comprising Vietnamese war veterans, students and ordinary citizens the demonstrators sang patriotic songs and waved banners in front of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi.