China on Friday once again disregarded Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and deployed a research vessel along with five escort vessels to an area where a Russian state company jointly operates a gas block with Hanoi in the rich. South China Sea.
The move is Beijing’s latest step in the region, after first sending the survey vessel earlier this month along with at least one Chinese coastguard vessel and nearly a dozen other vessels, Reuters reported.
A Vietnamese Navy Guard ship, right, is seen near a Chinese Coast Guard vessel in the South China Sea, about 210 km (130 mi) off the coast of Vietnam, May 14, 2014. (REUTERS/Nguyen Minh/File photo)
TAKE IT! PHILIPPINES SEND MESSAGE TO CHINA ABOUT ISLANDS CONTESTED AS FIGHT OF FIGHTS
The research vessel, Xiang Yang Hong 10, on Friday crossed a gas block known as 04-03 operated by Vietsovpetr, a joint venture between Russian-owned Zarubezhneft and PetroVietnam.
The news comes a day after Vietnam asked the Chinese ship to leave the area near the Spratly Islands after first entering the region on May 7.
China has tried to claim sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, recently stepping up its aggressive stance against neighboring nations with jurisdictional rights in the vast body of water like the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam.
An aerial view shows Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023. (REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez)
CHINA THREATENS ‘SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES’ AFTER US WARSHIP SAILS AGAIN CONTESTED PARACEL ISLANDS
Vietnam on Thursday issued a rare public statement demanding Chinese ships leave the area after crossing block 129, which is also operated by Vietgazprom.
Chinese spokesman Mao Ning responded to reporters’ questions on Friday following the declaration and said Beijing had sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and jurisdiction over adjacent waters.
“Relevant ships from China carry out normal activities under China’s jurisdiction. It is legitimate and legal,” she said. “It’s okay to enter other countries’ exclusive economic zones.”
International ships may cross other nations’ exclusive economic zones as they are not the direct territory of any specific sovereign, although nations have jurisdictional rights over these areas under international law that grant them special rights with respect to exploration, use of marine resources and production. power .
A Chinese Coast Guard ship patrols the disputed Scarborough Shoal, April 5, 2017. (REUTERS/Erik De Castro/File photo)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Ray Powell, who leads Stanford University’s Myoushu Project in the South China Sea, described the blatant disregard for Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone as the most significant incursion into the region since 2019 and a “worrying escalation”.
Reuters contributed to this report.
