A Japanese oil rig hired by Rosneft Vietnam to carry out drilling activities in the East Vietnam Sea will expand its operations for a month and a half, with China refusing to withdraw its vessels from Vietnamese waters.
Namely, Hakuryu-5’s operations will last until September 15, according to the Southern Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation (VMS-South). What is more, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) urged all vessels to stay clear of the rig, in order to ensure maritime safety.
Hakuryu-5 will look for oil and gas in Block 06.1 in the Nam Con Son Basin in the East Vietnam Sea, according to a per a production sharing agreement (PSA), which is valid until 2023 with PetroVietnam.
However, the Chinese survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 has, since July 3, interfered with the rig’s activities in the waters inside Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf near the Tu Chinh – Vung May region, local media reported.
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Recently, Vietnam had accused a Chinese oil survey vessel and its escorts of breaching its sovereignty and demanded China to remove the vessels from Vietnamese waters. The two countries are engaged in a dispute regarding the possible energy-rich of waters in the South China Sea for years.
On July 17, two US-based think tanks informed that Chinese and Vietnamese vessels were participating in a standoff which lasted numerous weeks near an oil block in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. However, neither China or Vietnam have confirmed the reports.
The reports said that a Chinese survey ship, carried out activities in the southern area of the East Sea, an action that breached Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
For its part, Vietnam demanded China to stop the ‘unlawful activities’, claiming that its vessels are on Vietnamese waters, and they must leave.
In addition, Vietnam urged the international community to participate in its efforts to maintain order, peace and security in the South China Sea.
On the other hand, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, responded that he hopes Vietnam will respect China’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters.
