Vietnam demands Chinese ship leaves its exclusive economic zone

By Khanh Vu
HANOI, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Vietnam has demanded that China
remove an oil survey vessel and its escorts from the Southeast
Asian country's exclusive economic zone, amid a month-long
standoff in waters seen as a potential global flashpoint as the
United States challenges Beijing's maritime claims.
Reuters first reported on Tuesday that the Haiyang Dizhi 8,
conducted by the China Geological Survey, had returned to the
area escorted by at least two Chinese coast guard vessels.
"Vietnam has made contact with China to protest its repeated
violations and demanded that China withdraw the vessel group
from Vietnamese waters," Vietnam's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Le Thi Thu Hang said in a statement.
At least five Chinese coast guard ships were escorting the
survey vessel, and at least two Vietnamese navy vessels were
following the group of Chinese ships as of late Friday,
according to data from Marine Traffic, a website that tracks
vessel movements.
The Haiyang Dizhi 8 first entered the zone under Chinese
coast guard escort in July and appeared to conduct a seismic
survey of waters there.
The latest impasse has fuelled anti-Chinese sentiment in
Vietnam, where previous tension between Beijing and Hanoi over
the disputed waters has triggered protests.
Last week, police broke up a brief protest outside China's
embassy in Hanoi against the operations of the survey vessel and
its escorts. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has criticised Chinese
"coercion" in the disputed South China Sea, while Beijing's top
diplomat, Wang Yi, said last month that maritime problems
involving Vietnam should not interfere with two-way ties.
After the Haiyang Dizhi 8 left Vietnam's EEZ on Aug. 7, the
survey ship docked at Fiery Cross Reef, a man-made island
controlled by China and built on a disputed South China Sea reef
claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines.
Hang said in her Friday statement that Vietnam is determined
to protect its legitimate and legal interests in the area.
"Vietnamese authorities continue to take measures to
exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in
accordance with Vietnamese law and international law," Hang
said.