Haiyang Shiyou 981 is a semi-submersible oil platform owned and operated by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
The rig began operation on May 9, 2012 in the South China Sea, 320 km southeast of Hong Kong, at a depth of 1,500 m. On May 2, 2014, the platform was moved near to the Paracel islands,[1] a move Vietnam stated violated their territorial claims[2] while Chinese officials said was legal[3] as it falls within surrounding waters of the Paracel Islands which China militarily controls.
Since the dominion of its location is claimed by both China and Vietnam, this raised a storm of protest in Vietnam.