South China Sea: Chinese ship leaves Vietnamese zone, but is it only refuelling?

Tracking data suggests Haiyang Dizhi 8 left Vanguard Bank, where tensions flared over apparent harassment of Vietnam’s gas and oil exploration

But it sailed only as far as a disputed reef controlled by China

Reading Time:3 minutes

Vietnam has deployed oil and gas platforms in the South China Sea, operated by Rosneft. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:03pm, 8 Aug 2019Updated: 11:55pm, 8 Aug 2019

A Chinese survey ship embroiled in a long stand-off with Vietnam has left a Vietnamese exclusive economic zone, but signs of possible tensions persist, according to a diplomatic observer.

Citing ship tracking data, Ryan Martinson, an assistant professor from the China Maritime Studies Institute at the Naval War College in the United States, said the Haiyang Dizhi 8 ship had left Vanguard Bank and was at Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea on Wednesday.

Vietnam’s foreign ministry spokesman Le Thi Thu Hang said on Thursday that the country was keeping watch on the situation.

“In the afternoon of August 7, the Haiyang Dizhi 8 survey vessel stopped its survey activities and left Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and southeastern continental shelf,” she said.

“Vietnam requests that countries respect the sovereignty and jurisdiction rights of other countries, and expresses its goodwill for negotiations to resolve disputes and boost friendship and cooperation.”

The survey ship had been in Vanguard Bank since July 3 – a move seen as an attempt by Beijing to hamper Vietnam’s gas and oil exploration work, which was being carried out with Russian petroleum company Rosneft. Tensions then erupted as both nations deployed coastguard vessels to the area and Vietnam demanded that the Chinese vessels leave.