Two More Chinese Oil Rigs Found to Have Been Operating in Taiwan’s EEZ
“Among the Chinese Maritime Safety Administration announcements reviewed by Domino Theory were notices detailing the locations of two Chinese oil rigs within Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone that have not been previously reported.”
“The Nanhai 7 is owned and operated by CNOOC [China National Offshore Oil Corporation], but unlike the other rigs that have been operating in Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone, it flies a Liberian flag. Flying a different flag of convenience is a tactic often used to obscure the origin of a vessel and make it more difficult to apprehend. On the high seas, a vessel’s flag state holds exclusive jurisdiction over the enforcement of maritime law.”
“In addition to towing and drilling operations, the Maritime Safety Administration’s website also publishes warnings about military exercises and shipwreck clean-ups so that mariners can adjust their navigation accordingly. The waters north of Pratas, where many of the Chinese vessels have been operating, are close to a busy shipping route connecting Hong Kong with the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung.”
“On August 22, four days after the end of the period covered in the Jamestown report, the Maritime Safety Administration website posted an update on the Nanhai 2’s plans. ‘From August 26 to October 26,’ the notice read, ‘the Nanhai 2 drilling platform will conduct drilling operations within a circular area centered at 21-49.3N and 116-54.3E with a radius of 1 nautical mile. No entry.’ The location is within Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone.”
Source: Domino Theory