In the East and South China Seas, Beijing is doubling down on its territory claims.
Vietnam accused a Chinese survey vessel and its escorts of violating its sovereignty, and demanded that Beijing withdraw its ships from the country’s exclusive economic zone.
The ships have been lingering in the region for two days.
China ignored the demand, saying its ships carry out “lawful” activities.
The two nations have long confronted each other over a disputed area in the South China Sea, an economically strategic waterway that China claims as its own. The trade route carries more than $3 trillion worth of ship-borne commerce annually.
Meanwhile, China’s coast guard said on Wednesday that its fleet entered the territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku islands and conducted patrol within that area. The islands are currently controlled by Japan.
But Vietnam and Japan are only two of the nations that share similar conflicts with China. China recently released three navigation buoys to the disputed Spratly Islands following a similar mark placement by the Philippines.