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The controversy between Vietnam and China escalated with China claiming its sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea, while its exploration of natural resources (crude oil) in the region. Vietnam alleges that Chinese ships have encroached on their jurisdiction and violated their sovereignty by entering into their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf, the Vanguard Bank. This act is in contravention to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) under Public International Law. Exclusive Economic Zone is the area where the nation has its exclusive rights of fishing, drilling and other economic activities in that area.
Vanguard Bank is situated in the Spratlys Island in the South China Sea and is located within the EEZ and continental shelf. The South China Sea is known to be a reserve of one ninety trillion cubic feet of natural gas and eleven billion barrels of oil. However, the allegations are defended by Bejing, who claims it to fall within the “nine-dash-line” and thus claim its sovereign rights over more than eighty per cent of the Sea.
The controversies commenced with the Chinese ship, Haiyang entering into the EEZ of Vietnam along with some more escort ships as an act of resource exploration in the area. It is reported that China wants to reduce its dependence on crude oil over other countries. For the last two years or so, China has been exerting coercive pressure, including military pressure over Vietnam in order to stay away from any drilling activities in that area. One of such effort includes China attempting to terminating a contract worth 200 million dollars with an energy firm named Repsol in order to prevent it from exploring the seabed.
Such criticised and alleged illegal exploration by China has gained some response from other countries including India, Australia, United States of America and the European Union. Interestingly, the concerning issue of continuing Chinese violation of UNCLOS was pointed out in the ASEAN meeting which took place in July and August this year. Likewise, concerns were shown in Foreign Ministers Meeting in the East India Summit and the Pentagon.
Image credits: CNN.com
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