Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - Four China Marine Surveillance (CMS) ships conducted a two-and-half hour practice near Yongshu Reef, an area of the South China Sea that is disputed by Vietnam and the Philippines, a government website said, but the operation had to be cut short due to adverse weather. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, anti-Chinese street protests flared up again like those of July and August 2011 when hundreds demonstrated against Chinese imperialism.
The CMS patrol sailed from the south China's coastal city of Sanya (Hainan) on 26 June and reached the disputed area after travelling more than 2,400 nautical miles (4,500 km). For Beijing, the action was a routine operation in the South China Sea to exert national sovereignty. "The determination and will of China's military to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering," Defence Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said.
However, the latest show of force, which follows the recent tenders for oil exploration in an area claimed by Vietnam, sparked a nationalist reaction among Vietnamese opposed to China's "imperialist" policies.
Hundreds of people took to the streets of the capital to protest against the aggression by Chinese ships. Under tight police controls, they gathered in front of the Chinese embassy in Hanoi, shouting slogans, like "Down with China". Police in Ho Chi Minh City stopped a similar demonstration near the Chinese consulate but did not arrest anyone.
For analysts and experts, Beijing's regional "provocations," including the deployment of ships in disputed waters and its oil exploration tenders, are part of a plan to establish Chinese supremacy in the Asia-Pacific region. This is of great concern to the US government, which is interested in maintaining the balance power in a strategic region for world trade.
Among the nations in the Asia-Pacific region involved in the dispute, China has the most extensive claims in the South China Sea. Controlling it would provide a major strategic advantage in terms of trade and access to oil and natural gas.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are opposed to China's expansionism, and can rely on the support of the United States, which has major strategic interests in the area.
In recent months, the area has already seen various incidents involving Navy ships and fishing boats from various countries, including China, Vietnam and the Philippines, interested in the sea's rich fishing grounds.