China/Vietnam/South China Sea: China and Vietnam Face off in South China Sea over Resource Rich Vanguard Reef

Jul 19, 2019 | Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News
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Tensions are rising in the South China Sea, with a potential flashpoint developing between China and Vietnam, who are engaged in a weeks-long “stand-off” over the Vanguard Bank, according to multiple reports. On Monday (July 15), a Chinese survey vessel the Haiyang Dizhi 8 completed a 12 day survey of waters around the nearby Spratly Island chain, and also passed within 200 nautical miles of Vietnam’s coast reports SCMP. Throughout most of the survey the nine Vietnamese vessels trailed the Haiyang Dizhi, which was escorted by at least four Chinese Coast Guard vessels.