MANILA, Philippines – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Wednesday (May 21st) that China's placing of an oil rig in contested South China Sea waters had "seriously threatened peace", AFP reported.

Speaking in Manila after meeting Philippine President Benigno Aquino, Dung said they had agreed that the international community should condemn China.

"The president and I shared the deep concerns over the current extremely dangerous situations caused by China's many actions that violate international law," Dung said, adding that Beijing had "seriously threatened peace, stability, maritime security and safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea".

Meanwhile, nine Chinese fishermen pled not guilty Wednesday in Philippines court to charges of poaching and taking a protected species. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in jail.