Amid a verbal spat with Vietnam over sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat in the disputed South China Sea, China on Tuesday said it has moved the controversial oil rig, which escalated tensions between the two Communist nations, to a new location.
China’s decision to relocate the oil rig in the disputed waters came after Vietnam accused a Chinese ship of ramming and sinking one of its fishing boats.
The rig had moved to new location, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. Qin said China Oilfield Services limited (COSl) had completed the first phase of oil drilling and exploration off the controversial islands and has moved to another site for its second phase of work.