Vietnam Demands That China Ship Out Vessels From Its EEZ

Vietnam on Thursday accused a Chinese survey vessel and its escorts of violating its sovereignty, and demanded that Beijing remove the ship from its waters, Phuong Nguyen reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: "Vietnam demands that China immediately remove the survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10, Chinese coast guard ships, and fishing vessels out of Vietnam's waters," foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said.

Vietnam and China have long been embroiled in a territorial dispute over a potentially energy-rich stretch in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which more than $3 trillion of commerce passes annually.

Last week, Vietnam criticized recent conduct by a Chinese research ship in the same area of the Southeast Asian country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, based on what it says are old maps, including waters that lie within Vietnam's EEZ and four other Southeast Asian countries.

"Vietnam demands that China immediately remove the survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10, Chinese coast guard ships, and fishing vessels out of Vietnam's waters," foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said.

"Vietnam has made contact with China several times and implemented measures in accordance with international law and Vietnamese law to ensure lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam," he added. statement added.

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