VANGUARD BANK, SOUTH CHINA SEA — During 2020, despite the pandemic, China has increased its campaign of using its ships to claim most of the South China Sea as its own territory, including a shoal only 140 kilometers from Malaysia. <br /><br />Named Luconia Shoals, this submarine ridge lies 1,500 kilometers from China's southern island of Hainan. <br /><br />The shoal is also inside Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone, meaning that China has no legal right to patrol the area. <br /><br />However, Chinese coast guard ships are currently harassing oil and gas activity in the area, according to the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS. <br /><br />The CSIS released tracking data showing that Chinese patrol ships have been increasing their aggressive patrolling in the region. <br /><br />One important concern is that these ships are now also targeting Vanguard Bank, an oil and gas-rich shoal claimed by Vietnam. <br /><br />The area had been quiet until Chinese vessels began persistent patrols in July, when Vietnam decided to cancel a drilling project in the area. <br /><br />The CSIS says Beijing is using the persistent patrols in an effort to normalize its presence and thereby strengthen its claims of ownership.
