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South China Sea
ChinaDiplomacy

New stand-off between Vietnamese and Chinese ships reported in South China Sea

  • The incident was triggered by a Vietnamese notice expanding its oil drilling operations in Vanguard Bank, an area both sides claim
  • Both countries have been sending ships into the area in an effort to expel the other side’s vessels, according to reports

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Vietnam is drilling for oil in the disputed area. Photo: Handout
Minnie Chan
Chinese and Vietnamese vessels have been involved in a new confrontation in a disputed part of the South China Sea after Hanoi tried to expand oil drilling operations in the area, according to social media reports.
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Neither country has confirmed the encounters, which indicates that both sides are trying to avoid further escalation, according to one Chinese observer.

Chinese social media account South China Sea Wave said in a WeChat post on Sunday that more than a dozen vessels were involved in the encounter, which was triggered by an internal notice from the Vietnamese authorities saying they would expand the drilling programme at Block 05-1A near Vanguard Bank this month.

South China Sea Wave, an account that specialises in military reports and research into the area, said the expansion programme would violate the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The declaration, which China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed in 2002, affirms freedom of navigation and overflight, the peaceful settlement of disputes and calls for self-restraint.

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South China Sea Wave said the Vietnamese announcement prompted Beijing to deploy the Xiang Yang Hong 10 research vessel to the area escorted by two Chinese coastguard ships and at least seven fishing boats from Guangdong and Hainan provinces. Vietnam responded by deploying five vessels.

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