Over 20 Chinese ships were deployed on July 12 while Vietnam tried to protect Hakuyru-5, Japanese supplied research platform currently used by Hanoi and Russia for joint prospecting in the region. Chinese coast guard ships also tracked activities of Hakuyru-5.Beijing should not conduct any activities that would complicate the situation in the sea and violate Vietnam’s sovereign rights in the Vanguard Bank area in SCS, according to maritime affairs experts. The actions so far have violated Vietnam’s sovereignty under the International Law The Vanguard Bank standoff represents the latest episode in the ongoing South China Sea (SCS) disputes, and signals Beijing’s unwillingness to adhere to the UNCLOS while continuing to base its claim to sovereign rights in the South China Sea on the so-called “nine-dash line. Since 2017, China has been strongly against Vietnam’s oil exploration activities in Vanguard Bank in blatant violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty.Beijing has been increasing its resource exploration efforts since 2016 in the South China Sea region in a bid to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers for its crude oil. Since July China has been testing waters by sending its ships and then withdrawing to observe reactions including from the Global powers.

Source: Economic Times September 30, 2019 03:56 UTC