China uses a new research vessel to strengthen sovereignty claims
China will use the new research vessel to consolidate sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on July 27, while the US House of Foreign Affairs Chairman condemned. the Chinese survey ship group is violating Vietnam's exclusive economic zone.
With a maximum speed of 16 knots and a range of about 14,000 nautical miles, the new long-range research vessel Da Yang Hao has the ability to conduct surveys and explore the seabed resources in any of the above seas. Chinese media and media reported on July 27.
Help optimize civil and military operations
Da Yang Hao is owned and managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, equipped with China's most advanced ocean survey technology. The transfer of this ship marks a new era of Chinese capacity in research, survey and exploration of marine resources and helps maintain its rights in international waters, CCTV said.
In recent years, Beijing has continuously expanded its ocean survey fleet, considering it a way to consolidate territorial sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, so the new research vessel will be mobilized to serve this goal, SCMP will believe.
Collin Koh, a researcher at S Rajaratnam International Research School in Singapore, said that if Da Yang Hao was deployed in the South China Sea, it would enhance China's maritime presence in the region, but the Field presence is only part of the story because this ship is not simply a survey ship but an ocean research vessel. Ships often do surveying tasks but also have laboratories to conduct marine scientific research experiments.
"If taken to the South China Sea, the ship will help strengthen China's maritime presence. But more importantly, the fact that ships collect important data about the ocean will help China improve its understanding of the seas. This will help optimize China's civilian and military operations, helping it strengthen its sovereignty claims, ”Koh said.
98.5 meters long, 17 meters wide and approximately 4,600 tons of water, equipped with a submersible, sonar and remote sensing system, Da Yang Hao not only does the survey.
"China will use the information collected to understand more about seabed and ecological conditions ... This information can generate useful data for fisheries, seabed exploitation and resource exploitation. raw hydrocarbons and many other activities, ”said Koh.
According to him, no country in the region has such a high capacity of marine scientific research, so Da Yang Hao gives China a very significant advantage.
Song Zhongping, a military commentator in Hong Kong, said that improving ocean research capacity will help China become a sea superpower.
The US House of Representatives criticized China for violating Vietnamese waters
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives Eliot Engel on July 26 announced that China's Hai Duong 8 survey fleet is violating Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, violating international law; China needs to stop neighbor bullying.
"China's recent aggression on the South China Sea is a worrying evidence of a public country that ignores international law," he said.
"According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, China's actions violated Vietnam's sovereignty and Vietnam's legal rights in the country's exclusive economic zone ... Such harassment. is a threat to Vietnam and evidence that China is ready to bully its neighbors. Such an incident shows China blatantly disregarding international law and diplomacy, ”said US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs chairman on the official website.
“I am beside Vietnam and the partners condemn this aggression and provocation. The international community must continue to support order based on international law and law. I urge China to immediately withdraw all ships from the waters of neighboring countries and end this illegal bullying tactic, ”Engel said.