Read Also: Cluster of Chinese Vessels Spotted Near Russian Rig off Vietnam – Ship MonitorsChina claims most of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, including areas that are within Vietnam’s EEZ. The 2019 stabdoff lasted for more than three months and largely targeted a block then operated by Russian state oil firm Rosneft ROSN.MM. It is also regularly crossing blocks 132 and 131 that Vietnam has licensed to Vietgazprom, a joint-venture between Russia’s giant Gazprom GAZP.MM and PetroVietnam. On Thursday, when Vietnam issued a rare public statement demanding the ships leave, they were in block 129, also operated by Vietgazprom, according to Powell. Two Vietnamese fisheries ships were on Friday shadowing the Chinese vessels at a distance of 200-300 metres, Powell said, noting the Chinese ships had moved to a block adjacent to those operated by the Russian firms.

Source: Daily Nation May 27, 2023 22:14 UTC