China sends drilling rig to Senkaku/Diaoyu waters

This action by China will escalate tensions between Japan and China as both sides are determined to be uncompromising on the sovereignty issue of this island.

According to Xinhua News Agency, while the Chinese navy held live-fire drills in the East China Sea, a self-elevating drilling rig named “Khai Wan 01” entered the waters of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and conducted exploration activities. Both Japan and China claim sovereignty over the island, but it is under Japanese control.

According to the Shangyu Weekly, Khai Hoan 01 is worth up to 180 million USD, manufactured by KS Energy Singapore, then bought by ICBCLeasing (a subsidiary of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ICBC) and is currently leased by COSL (China) oil and gas company.

Khai Hoan 01 rig is 66.71m long and 67.06m wide. Previously, ICBCLeasing also put the Hai Duong 932 Oil and Gas rig and the Explorer No. 1 rig into operation in March and May.

Analysts say China's naming of this rig "Khai Hoan 01" shows that the country intends to bring more equipment with the name "Victor" to the disputed waters with Japan.

Soha.vn