Vietnam calls for Chinese vessels to leave Vanguard Bank in South China Sea
- It comes amid stand-off at reef in disputed Spratly Islands that began when survey vessel entered area with coastguard ships to conduct seismic research
- Analysts say it’s unlikely the incident will escalate into a conflict or hurt relations
Vietnam has called on China to remove a survey vessel and coastguard ships from disputed waters in the South China Sea, amid a tense stand-off between the two countries since early July.
The statement from Hanoi was the first clear demand for Chinese ships to leave Vanguard Bank – the westernmost reef in the resource-rich Spratly Islands – since the confrontation began after a Chinese vessel accompanied by coastguard ships entered the area on July 3 to conduct seismic research. The manoeuvre prompted a response from Vietnam, which sent its own coastguard vessels to the area.
But analysts said it was unlikely the incident would escalate into a conflict or damage relations.
On Friday, Vietnamese foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Chinese survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 and its escorts had, over the past few days, “conducted activities in the southern area of the East Sea that violated Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf”. The South China Sea is known as the East Sea in Vietnam.
“Vietnam has made contact with China on multiple occasions via different channels, delivered diplomatic notes to oppose China’s violations, and staunchly demanded China to stop all unlawful activities and withdraw its ships from Vietnamese waters,” the statement said.
