Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

” 马库斯朗塞特 “No. ocean research vessel, who intends to China Taiwan and the mainland near the southern provinces to inspect

newspaper writer Qiu Yongzheng

U.S. “马库斯朗塞特″ No. ocean survey ships to arrive in the waters near China ‘expedition, “the news has given rise to strong concern, it is feared it could become a Sino-US” new breaking point. ” American aboard the research vessel’s scope of activities is what? Whether it will enter China’s marine exclusive economic zone? It is a collection of marine intelligence for military purposes? To this end, “Youth Reference” newspaper reporter interviewed “马库斯朗塞特″ number of affiliated organizations – Lamont – Doherty Earth Observatory press officer Jinmadinuo.

“This activity is prohibited”

Hong Kong, “South China Morning Post” reported on March 22, – vessels will arrive in the U.S. research vessel waters near China, could trigger a new confrontation. Because, in a half ago, China and the U.S. Navy ships have a monitoring vessel (referred to as “perfection”) in the confrontation near Hainan Island.

ship by the Columbia University Lamont – Doherty Earth Observatory responsible for the use of “马库斯朗塞特″ number of marine research vessel, the waters near China Taiwan plans to expand the study and the South China Sea. The purpose of the expedition is said to draw the submarine topography maps, and to study the earthquake and tsunami caused by the geological process of change. The United States said the expedition has been Japan, the Philippines, license, and the Taiwan authorities to allow it to rely on Hong Kong. Taiwan, “Central News Agency,” March 21, confirmed in the United States “马库斯朗塞特″ number of marine research vessel with the assistance of Taiwan’s “Ministry Central Geological Survey,” is expected in April in Kaohsiung – Pingtung survey off the coast of to detect undersea combustible ice reserves.

although “马库斯朗塞特″ number of activities appear to be the Taiwan authorities and the consent of Japan and the Philippines, but the “South China Morning Post,” that it “obviously did not get Beijing’s permission . ” In the “perfection” in the U.S. surveillance ship event, Beijing that the United States engaged in monitoring activities within its exclusive economic zone in violation of international law and Chinese law. If the “马库斯朗塞特″ number of activities did not get Beijing’s approval, it will stir up new trouble for China-US relations, even between the United States to become the “new flashpoint.” Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Defence and Strategic Studies senior research fellow Sam Bateman believes that this action would be more controversial than military activity. “It does look a potentially provocative, according to international conventions, such activities are prohibited unless the right to claim exclusive economic zones of countries have ratified this activity, if indeed that civilian vessels in the Chinese exclusive economic district activities, the ship will face intercepted, detained, or even the risk of legal sanctions. “Natural Resources Defense Council New York, USA senior policy analyst Michael Air Asia Disney said. Unauthorized activities in Chinese waters aboard the research vessel will make trouble. “China’s law protecting the marine environment in its exclusive economic zone is undoubtedly applicable; according to international conventions that China has some power to implement national legislation in the area.”

the United States to the newspaper sent a “written description”

“马库斯朗塞特″ was whether the activities in the exclusive economic zone in China? Its activities by the Chinese government’s approval of it? Whether the data will help the U.S. Navy expedition? On these issues, “Youth Reference” newspaper correspondent March 23 via e-mail interview with Columbia University’s Lamont – Doherty Earth Observatory press officer Jinmadinuo.

Martino response has been very cautious. March 24, he was the first time in response to the newspaper, said: “I do in the Lamont – Doherty Earth Observatory press office, on your question, I will give you an answer as soon as possible.” 26, Martino and reply, said: “I apologize for the slow reply, but this involves many departments, we will try to communicate with various departments after the latest reply to you.” 28 am, Martino sent to the reporter, “Columbia University on ‘马库斯朗塞特′ research vessel for marine survey in waters of Asian writing. ”

The note told of the questions raised are as follows: “马库斯朗塞特 number is the flagship academic institutions, marine survey, part of the U.S. National Science Foundation, owned by the nation’s many universities, research institutions and joint use of laboratories, mainly used to detect undersea world of Columbia University’s Lamont – Doherty Earth Observatory, on behalf of the National Science Foundation to run the ship specific. “

this note also responded that this expedition is to study the relevant area of ??ocean floor topography, the formation of the continental shelf, earthquakes and so on, and follow the “United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea,” the provisions relating to marine scientific research activities. As the research activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea, Taiwan Strait between the Philippines and the “near Taiwan Taiwan Strait” to have won the “Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines research permit.” Despite media reports that “马库斯朗塞特″ will enter the Chinese exclusive economic zone activities, but it will not enter “is understood as any exclusive economic zone waters of China.” The expedition by the research vessel dragging the gas gun firing sound pulses to the ocean floor rocks, dragging the boat after the echo from the underwater mini-microphone recorded, the data will be converted into the ocean floor material structure image. In addition, “马库斯朗塞特″ in the animal within a certain distance from the sea will turn off the gas gun, the chosen route are mostly deep sea, where the sound will disappear faster, and most marine organisms do not live there, in the Timing is also intended to avoid the growth period of marine animals.

carefully worded to avoid military use

Throughout this reply, the wording is quite rigorous, it avoided the “research whether the data will help the U.S. Navy” issue However, the information revealed in the text can not be ignored: ① to answer questions only newspaper, “马库斯朗塞特″ number of activities have not been approved by the Chinese government, because it won the “Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines research permit. ” ② “will be interpreted into any waters, exclusive economic zone of China,” This sentence contains a very delicate position, that is, whether the water was the U.S. side understands the job for the Chinese EEZ. ③ The exploration activities will indeed cause some damage to marine life.

waters surrounding the United States in China’s espionage has never stopped, like “perfection” that belongs to the U.S. Navy’s survey ship in the waters around China activities can easily cause diplomatic disputes, and “Marcus * Lang Sete “Although the number of marine research vessel belonging to private marine research institutions, their activities are less noticeable, but the technologically advanced non-research vessels, and sometimes even more than the U.S. military research vessel more suitable for intelligence gathering. In particular, “no time” event repercussions, “马库斯朗塞特″ was then followed into the waters near Taiwan to “investigate”, which it is questionable its real intentions.

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