Chinese survey ship expands operations within Vietnam’s waters

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Anh Minh 01:16, 2019/10/04

The Vietnamese spokesperson reiterates the demand that China immediately cease its serious violations, withdraw all of its vessels from Vietnam’s maritime zones and desist from repeating similar violations.

Chinese survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 and its escorted vessels continue and expand their operations within Vietnam’s waters after three months of being deployed there, thus seriously violating Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, a spokesperson has said.

Chinese survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8

Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said at a regular press meeting on Thursday that the operations of the Chinese vessels seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction as enshrined under relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which both Vietnam and China are party.

“Vietnam strongly objects these actions and has made presentation with China in this regard,” Hang said, reiterating the demand that China immediately cease its serious violations, withdraw all of its vessels from Vietnam’s maritime zones and desist from repeating similar violations.

“Vietnam will resolutely defend its sovereignty as well as its lawful and legitimate rights in the East Sea (South China Sea) by every means as allowed under international law,” the Vietnamese spokesperson said.

In response to reporters’ question on China’s deployment of a deepwater drilling rig in the South China Sea, Hang said Vietnamese authorities were verifying the information.

Haiyang Shiyou 982. Photo: Weibo

Chang An Jian, a social media account run by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission said late last month that the ‘Haiyang Shiyou 982’, or ‘Ocean Oil 982’, went into operation in waters up to 3,000 meters (9,850 feet) deep. The platform, which is China’s largest and most advanced of its kind, is expected to drill at depths of up to 5,000 meters.

China in May 2014 sent oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 into Vietnamese waters, triggering high tensions in bilateral relations and protests across Vietnam.

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