Bilateral tensions between China and Vietnam have become more pronounced since Beijing began pushing its maritime boundaries. China's most recent aggressive move — the placement of deep-sea oil rigs near the Paracel Islands , which Hanoi also claims — appears to have prompted some unusual responses from Vietnam's public and top leadership. China's Oil Rig in the South China Sea Hanoi's answers to Chinese advances have included stationing maritime enforcement ships around the rig, but Vietnam has been extremely cautious about directly confronting China's larger and more advanced coast guard and fishery vessels. Meanwhile, Vietnam's attempt to resort to nationalism domestically fell short after deadly riots broke out in factories , undermining Vietnam's investment environment and raising concerns about external forces manipulating the protests. Vietnam has also considered legal measures to counter China's maritime claims, possibly under the U.N.