Chinese ship leaves Vietnam

Disputed area: The Hakuryu-5 drilling rig in the South China Sea off the coast of Vung Tau, Vietnam. — Reuters

HANOI: A Chinese oil survey vessel that has been embroiled in a tense stand-off with Vietnamese vessels in the South China Sea has left Vietnamese-controlled waters after more than three months, marine data showed.

The Chinese vessel, the Haiyang Dizhi 8, was speeding away from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone towards China yesterday under the escort of at least two Chinese ships, according to data from Marine Traffic, a website that tracks vessels.China claims almost all the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea but neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.