27 Sep 2018

Palau asks China to remove research vessel

4:21 pm on 27 September 2018

Palau has asked China to remove a research vessel found operating in the country's waters.

Xiang Yang Hong 1

Xiang Yang Hong 1 Photo: WikiCommons

Island Times reported the discovery of the ship last week prompted Palau to send a diplomatic note to China's embassy in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Palau said the Xiang Yang Hong 1 was "dangerously close" to newly-installed submarine cables and issued China a please explain.

China had been issued a permit for marine scientific research but this was for a different vessel.

Palau also informed the US embassy of the issue.