China dispatches patrol boat amid tensions

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China dispatches patrol boat amid tensions

AP – 9 mins ago

BEIJING (AP) — China says it is dispatching its largest maritime patrol ship on

a first-ever visit to the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore amid a spike

in South China Sea tensions.

State media reports Thursday say the Haixun-31 left Wednesday and will stay in

Singapore for two weeks of exchanges on search and rescue, anti-piracy and port

management operations.

Such ships have been accused of harassing foreign shipping in the South China

Sea, including a U.S. Navy surveillance vessel.

China, Vietnam and the Philippines have traded diplomatic barbs recently over

claims to the resource-rich South China Sea and its island groups. Vietnam's

navy conducted live-firing exercises Monday after accusing Chinese boats of

disrupting oil and gas exploration in its waters.