Chinese ship returns to Vietnam's exclusive economic zone

By James Pearson and Khanh Vu
HANOI, Aug 13 (Reuters) - A Chinese survey ship returned to
Vietnam's exclusive economic zone off its coast on Tuesday, ship
tracking data showed, less than a week after it left the area
where vessels from the two countries were locked in a month-long
standoff.
The Haiyang Dizhi 8 first entered the zone under Chinese
coast guard escort in July and appeared to conduct a seismic
survey of waters that are a potential global flashpoint as the
United States challenges China's maritime claims.
The survey ship, which according to Vietnam left the area on
Aug. 7, was now headed back to the zone under escort from at
least two Chinese Coast Guard vessels, according to data from
Marine Traffic, a website that tracks vessel movements.
Since the standoff began, Chinese coastguard ships have also
been operating within a Vietnamese oil block where a rig leased
by Russian oil giant Rosneft ROSN.MM has been drilling, the
data showed.
Vietnam's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a
Reuters request for comment.
Last month, Vietnam accused the survey ship and its escorts
of conducting illegal activities in the economic zone and
Vietnam's continental shelf and demanded that China withdraw the
vessels. After it left the area, the survey ship docked at Fiery
Cross Reef, a man-made island controlled by China and built on a
disputed South China Sea reef that is claimed by Vietnam and the
Philippines.
The impasse has fuelled anti-Chinese sentiment in Vietnam,
where previous tension between Beijing and Hanoi over the
disputed waters has triggered protests.
Police last week 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.