An online notice giving the location of a China’s $1-billion deepwater oil rig in the South China Sea was cancelled and removed from its website by China’s Maritime Safety Administration two days after Vietnam exposed its location. The notice dated Jan 20.
The notice placed the Haiyang Shiyou 981 rig at the Lingshui 25-2-1 well site about 140 km south of China’s Sanya resort city on Hainan island, and 150 km west of the Paracel Islands that China occupies, and which Vietnam claims.
Recently Vietnam military intelligence official exposed and gave a warning about the exact location of the oil rig and where it is heading in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
According to the Intelligence report from Vietnam military official, the China’s Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig was in the area where the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of Vietnam and China overlaps.
Intel report said, the oil rig is traversing eastward going south of the disputed area of the West Philippine sea, heading towards Recto bank (Reed bank) and near Kagitingan reef where the China’s reclaimed artificial islands, airstrip and military facilities located.
Also, read this: Report- China’s Oil Rig Coming, Heading Towards Philippine waters
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry said the rig was not drilling in disputed territory, in response to a warning from Vietnam to refrain from such activity.
Vietnam authorities did not believe in the statement from China’s Foreign Ministry instead it closely monitors the tracks movement of the oil rig which they believed it is heading to the Philippine waters.
Vietnam immediately gave warning to the Philippine government that the oil rig is going closely south of the West Philippine sea. - Carl E.
