A US survey vessel is risking another confrontation in the waters around China when it arrives in the region next week - less than a month after a standoff near Hainan Island between Chinese patrol vessels and a US Navy surveillance ship.
Sections of its planned sea-floor geological survey will take place well inside China's 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Maritime law experts say the ship's visit could be even more provocative than the USNS Impeccable's mission that led to the recent standoff. The fallout from that continues, with the Pentagon yesterday releasing video, shot from the US vessel, of Chinese ships closing in.
At the same time, green groups are worried that the survey method - which involves firing sonic air guns underwater - could harm already endangered populations of marine mammals in the region.
Sam Bateman, a Singapore-based maritime security analyst, said the mission could prove more controversial even than military activity.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea provided sovereign immunity for naval vessels, yet made it quite clear permission from China would be needed for civilian marine research in its economic zone, he said.
