Vietnam demands China withdraw survey ship from exclusive economic zone

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested that China withdraw the survey ship Huong Duong Hong 10 and its coast guard and fishing vessels from Vietnam's waters.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese authorities have communicated many times with the Chinese side, implementing measures in accordance with international law and Vietnamese law to ensure Vietnam's legitimate rights and interests," Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said today, when referring to information about the survey ship Huong Duong Hong 10 and Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels violating Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"Vietnam requests relevant Chinese agencies to comply with the common perception of the two countries' senior leaders, immediately stop the infringement activities, withdraw the Huong Duong Hong 10 ship and coast guard and fishing vessels from Vietnam's waters, respect Vietnam's sovereignty and jurisdiction, and seriously implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC)," Ms. Hang added.

China's Xiangyang Hong 10 survey ship. Photo: Global Security — China's Xiangyang Hong 10 survey ship. Photo: *Global Security*

According to SCMP , the survey ship Huong Duong Hong 10 was escorted by two coast guard ships and many Chinese fishing boats earlier this month heading to the Tu Chinh area located within Vietnam's EEZ.

The last time China sent ships to the Vanguard Bank area was in July 2019. The Haiyang Dizhi 8 research vessel operated in these waters with at least four Chinese coast guard vessels for more than two months.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time condemned China for violating Vietnam's EEZ and continental shelf, seriously violating Vietnam's sovereignty and jurisdiction under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which both Vietnam and China are members. Vietnam repeatedly requested China to withdraw this group of ships and not to threaten security and peace in the region. The Chinese group of ships withdrew in October 2019.

According to UNCLOS, any research or survey activities in the EEZ must be authorized by the coastal state.

Vu Anh

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