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China and Vietnam have clashed over the presence of an oil survey ship, the Haiyan Dizhi 8, that has been stationed in Vietnamese-controlled waters. The vessel has been stationed there for the last three months but according to maritime shipping data, it has now left.


According to shipping data, the vessel was escorted out of the disputed zone by two other Chinese vessels. Since the vessel’s arrival in the waters in July, Vietnam has issued a series of warnings to China and just last week, claimed that it was “determined to fight” to protect its territory. Amid calls from Vietnam to remove the vessel, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, admitted the vessel had finally completed its mission. Speaking at a daily news briefing this week, she said: “According to our understanding the work is presently complete.”

South China Sea: Xi Jinping

Due to China’s implementation of its nine-dash line policy, China has laid claim to several territories which are contested with several of its neighbouring nations. In light of the recent clash with Vietnam, the President and Communist Party chief, Nguyen Phu Trong stated last week that his country would never give up its territory. Mr Trong said: “We will resolutely and persistently maintain independence while fighting for the protection of our sovereignty, but we must maintain a peaceful environment for development. "What belongs to our independence and national sovereignty, we will never give up. JUST IN: South China Sea: Beijing’s secret Solomon Islands deal


South China Sea: The dispute started three months ago

Xi Jinping

Nguyen Phu Trong

The reason behind the decision was due to the inclusion of a scene where there was a map illustrating China’s nine-dash line policy. Due to China’s growing presence in the region, both the UK and US have sent vessels in order to counter Beijing’s grower power. As a result of an uptick in US vessels in the area, a Chinese academic has claimed that Beijing must take the offensive against Washington. Professor Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a think tank under Peking University’s Institute of Ocean Research, insisted that China must hit back hard.

South China Sea mapped

He said: “In this game an effective response is to escalate the level of confrontation and raise the stakes.” In turn, secretary of the US Navy, Ben Spencer stated recently that to counter China’s burgeoning threat, it would take an “all of government” approach to the matter. Moreover, he insisted that it would take support from the US’ allies to help implement any plan against Beijing.

The USS Ronald reagan recently entered the region