Lye Liang FookandHa Hoang Hop

Opinion | Can Beijing and Hanoi overcome their latest South China Sea flashpoint at Vanguard Bank?

Vietnam and China are embroiled in a tense stand-off over oil and gas fields in the disputed waterway, ramming each other’s vessels and firing water cannons

Though the two claimant states are still talking, Hanoi shows no sign of backing down, and some say Vietnam is ready to take tougher action without fear of the consequences

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A Vietnamese policeman (left) approaches anti-China protesters in front of the Chinese embassy in Hanoi on August 6. Photo: Reuters

Lye Liang FookandHa Hoang Hop

Published: 9:00am, 6 Sep 2019Updated: 9:00am, 6 Sep 2019

Vietnam and China are embroiled in their worst stand-off in the South China Sea since a 2014 clash in the waters off the Paracel Islands. Beijing in July dispatched a survey ship, the Haiyang Dizhi 8, to look for oil and gas off Vanguard Bank in waters claimed by both countries. The area is close to oil and gas block 06-01, where a Russia-Vietnam joint venture is drilling.

The Haiyang Dizhi 8 arrived with coastguard vessels and a maritime militia, prompting Vietnam to step up its presence to try and outnumber the Chinese ships. Vessels have reportedly been rammed and water cannons fired by both sides.

LOCKING HORNS AT SEA

The Haiyang Dizhi 8 has been surveying 35,000 sq km of the seabed northeast of Vanguard Bank, which lies within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf – inside which the country claims sole rights to fishing and drilling.

Chinese survey ship the Haiyang Dizhi 8. Photo: China Geological Survey

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