China may be working to de-escalate the crisis that erupted when it sent a drilling rig to waters disputed with Vietnam, a former Vietnamese diplomat said.

Chinese and Vietnamese officials met Wednesday in Hanoi to discuss their differences over the May deployment of a Chinese oil rig in contested waters.

Both sides have accused the other of stoking tensions. China has made its case to the United Nations, while Vietnam said the action is a threat to its sovereignty.

Duong Danh Dy, the former Vietnamese consul general to Guangzhou, China, told Voice of America the meeting in Hanoi may be a sign of a pending thaw.

"China has recently moved the rig and it appears that China is prepared for gradual de-escalation," he said.

The U.S. government, which owns Voice of America, said it has no stance on the territorial claims, but views China as the aggressor in the situation.

The Chinese government said both sides would work to resolve the conflict through political and diplomatic means. Through its official Xinhua News Agency, Beijing stressed it was operating in its territory in the region as part of a regular exploration effort.