Chinese coastguard patrols reefs controlled by Vietnam in South China Sea

Three patrol ships left a Chinese base on Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands on Thursday and circled around a series of land features – some of which Vietnam has built facilities on – before returning to the reef on Saturday, according to Automatic Identification System data.

The purpose of the patrol by the coastguard vessels – identified by the hull numbers 4301, 5009 and 21559 – was not clear.

New collision of Chinese-Philippine ships in South China Sea

It took place at a time of heightened tensions in the South China Sea, where China has territorial disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines and other rival claimants and after Beijing and Hanoi reaffirmed a commitment to “properly handle maritime issues”.

While the Chinese coastguard has had regular run-ins with Philippine vessels in recent years, it has largely refrained from open confrontation with Vietnam over their maritime disputes.

The Chinese ships patrolled an area in the Spratly Islands last week that took in Grierson Reef, Sin Cowe Island, Lansdowne Reef, Collins Reef, Pearson Reef, Alison Reef, Cornwallis South Reef and Tennent Reef.

It is upgrading 11 features in the ongoing building work, according to satellite monitoring data from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

South China Morning Post