The Chinese survey ships that cause ripples in Vietnam and across the South China Sea
- China’s fleet of 54 oceanic research vessels and their missions are part of the country’s expanding maritime operations
- Despite their ostensible scientific purpose, they have been accused of intelligence gathering and reconnaissance activity
After a tense, month-long stand-off between China and Vietnam over a reef in the South China Sea, the Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8, or Marine Geology 8, left Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone on Wednesday.
In early July, the Haiyang Dizhi 8 entered waters near the Vietnamese-controlled Vanguard Bank in the Spratly Islands, ostensibly to conduct a seismic survey.
But the vessel blocked a regional Vietnamese oil exploration project as it sailed across two oil and gas blocks within 200 nautical miles of Vietnam.
The Chinese ship was well protected, with escorts including the 12,000-tonne armed coastguard vessel 3901, complete with helicopter, and the 2,200-tonne coastguard ship 37111.
Vietnam responded to China’s actions by sending coastguard vessels to shadow the Chinese surveying ship, raising tensions between the countries to a level not seen in years.
Ultimately, several heavily armed coastguards vessels – two Chinese and four Vietnamese – were eyeing each other in patrols around the reef.
