Maritime disputes heat up between China, Philippines and Vietnam

Tensions threatened to flare between China and the governments in Vietnam and Philippines on Wednesday over existing maritime disputes in the oil- and natural gas-rich South China Sea.

The Vietnamese government reported on Wednesday that one of its ships had hit a Chinese oil rig, which was trying to establish a fixed position. The crash was confirmed by a Vietnamese official speaking on the condition of anonymity.

It was not immediately clear whether the Vietnamese navy vessel had intentionally rammed the Chinese rig. There no reports of injuries.

The incident occurred near the Paracel Islands, located roughly 120 nautical miles east of Vietnam’s South China Sea Coast. China seized the islands – known as Hoang Sa in Vietnam and Xisha in China – in 1974 and has controlled them ever since. However, Hanoi contends the islands fall under Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone as defined by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Earlier this week, Vietnam’s foreign ministry expressed outrage at China’s plans to commence drilling for oil in the disputed waters, calling the operation “illegal and invalid.”

China’s Maritime Safety Administration warned over the weekend that all ships would be prohibited from entering the 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) radius surrounding the drilling area until operations end on August 15.

Beijing’s increased activities in contested waters this year, as well as its increased investment in its military, have worried China’s neighbors. It is currently involved in territorial disputes with not only Vietnam, but also Japan, Malaysia and Philippines.

Philippines detain fishing boat crew

Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry demanded the release of 11 fishing boat crew members who were taken into police custody near the Half Moon Shoal, which is located on the northeastern corner of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Beijing demanded that Manila “provide a rational explanation and immediately release the people and the vessel,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters on Wednesdy. Chinese officials had reportedly traveled to the Philippines to secure their release.

“We once again warn the Philippines not to take any provocative actions,” Hua added, reasserting that China had “indisputable sovereignty” over the group of islands and reefs located southwest of the Philippines.

The arrest occurred on Tuesday around 7 a.m. local time. According to the Philippines National Police Maritime group, the fishing boat contained over 350 turtles, some of which were already dead. A Philippine boat also transporting poached turtles was apprehended as well.

kms/jr (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)