The territorial border conflict between China and Vietnam over South China Sea has been going on for decades. However, the conflict is getting fierce now as China is conducting a week-long naval exercise in the said-to-be sensitive area.
Currently, Beijing’s naval army is testing its newest warships and weapons in the Gulf of Tonkin. In response to the test, Vietnamese express disagreement on it.
A Hong Kong-based military expert, Song Zhongping, did not expect that Hanoi would be against it so badly.
“China and Vietnam reached a maritime delimitation agreement in 2000 to settle their disputes in the Gulf of Tonkin. So, Vietnam cannot point its finger at China now” he said.
“These exercises – including the one held near the Paracel chain of islands – are meant to show that the People’s Liberation Army has the capacity to protect China’s economic interests in the Gulf of Tonkin and the whole of the South China Sea.” he added.
However, Vietnam’s reaction is not baseless. This is because the military exercise takes place despite the presence of Chinese survey ship near the energy-rich Vanguard Bank. Accordingly, Hanoi announces that the area belongs to its exclusive economy zone.
According to Britannica, the Gulf of Tonkin is northwest arm of South China Sea. It is a site of oil exploration. Furthermore, the area and its surrounding are rich in oil and gas.
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Vietnam and China over the Territory
The dispute between China and Vietnam over territories in South China Sea is nothing novel. In the past, Vietnam dropped its oil exploration after China threatened military action if Hanoi did not do so.
For example, Vietnam had to cancel a US$ 200 million oil and gas development project with a Spanish company due to China’s pressure last year.
However, this time might be different. When a Chinese survey ship and some escort vessels began an oil exploration last month, Vietnam did not stand back. Vietnam demands China to leave its exclusive economic zone.
Rumors also said that the country is working on the development of more modern and skilled navy. This is to prepare and counter China’s advanced military and navy.
“In this complicated situation that poses many threats to the country’s defense and security, given the Navy’s role as the key defender of the country’s sovereignty, the Viet Nam People’s Navy must do more to build a strong, developed, skilled and modern naval force that can fulfill all assigned missions,” said Phạm Văn Vững, Vietnam’s commissar.
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