SOURCE: ZEENEWS.COM
Beijing: China’s marine surveillance ships today began patrolling the disputed South China Sea, implementing a controversial order to border police to board and search ships entering disputed areas which Beijing considers its territorial waters.
China’s State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said its two vessels aided by a surveillance aircraft patrolled waters near the Beibu Gulf of the South China Sea, where Vietnam recently complained of harassment of Chinese vessels obstructing its survey ship.
One of the oil platforms, Ledong 22-1, told patrolling fleet that no oil leak had taken place, nor had they been harassed by foreign vessels lately, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Early last month Petro Vietnam alleged that Chinese fishing boats sabotaged one of its seismic survey ships 69 km from the small island of Con Co in the South China Sea.
It said two Chinese fishing boats had cut across cables being laid by the survey vessel Binh Minh 2 off the coast of central Vietnam.
Reacting to Hanoi’s allegation Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told media here on Dec 6 that “Vietnam’s allegation is inconsistent with facts”.
“To our knowledge the sea area claimed by Vietnam is in the overlapping areas between China’s Hainan island and Vietnam and our side Beibu Gulf,” he said.
In November last year the local legislature of China’s Hainan authorised provincial border police to board or seize foreign ships that illegally enter the province’s waters and order them to change course or stop sailing from January 1.
According to the order activities such as entering the island province’s waters without permission, damaging coastal defence facilities, and engaging in publicity that threatens national security are illegal, excerpts of the order published in the official media at that time said.
If foreign ships or crew members violate the regulations, Hainan police have the right to take over the ships or their communications systems, under the revised regulations, the orders said.
China virtually claims ownership to the entire South China Sea.
Besides Vietnam; Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan too have disputes with China over the disputed islands in the South China Sea as well as the extent of territorial waters.
Philippines and Vietnam have raised objections over the maps printed in China’s e-passports claiming the sovereignty over the disputed areas.
PTI
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RELATED STORY:
China’s Newest And Deadliest Warship Has Entered The South China Sea
By Robert Johnson
Buisness Insider
Buisness Insider
Type 054A warship (Jeff Head via PLA)
As five other countries claim ownership of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, and its supposed billions in oil and gas deposits, China’s backing its claim by sending the newest warship it has to the region.
The Taiwan-owned China Times reports the Liuzhou Type 054A warship entered the South China Sea Fleet of China’s PLA Navy, making it the sixth 054 warship in the area.
Though the Type 054A is not a new design, this most recently commissioned vessel will have the latest technological advantages.
Type 054A Deck Gun (Jeff Head via PLA Navy)
From China Times:
Liuzhou is currently considered one of China’s most advanced surface combat Type 054A vessels. It has a stealthy hull design with sloped surfaces and radar absorbent materials. Equipped with a medium-range air defense missile system, the vessel is capable of destroying air targets at a distance up to 50 km. Although it is not as lethal as the Russian-built Sovremenny class and domestic destroyers, the new frigate still serves well as a multi-role warship in the Chinese fleet.
Among all 16 frigates in the same class and currently in the service of the PLA Navy, Liuzhou is the newest addition. Since Liuzhou is commanded by the South Sea Fleet, which is based in Zhanjiang of Guangdong province, analysts believe that its primary mission is to protect Chinese interests in the disputed South China Sea. The mainland and five other countries — Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei — have competing claims to the region’s islands and atolls.
The Liuzhou’s deployment comes days after the U.S. vowed to increase its military presence in the Philippines and China’s ensuing outrage over the decision.
The warship carries an array of sophisticated weapons including anti-submarine ordnance and stealth features allowing it to evade radar and move undetected.
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