On September 2, China and South Korea jointly held the "2008 Maritime Rescue and Oil Pollution Exercise" with the theme of "Focusing on the safety, Cherishing life and Protecting Marine Environment Together". "Hai Yang Shi You 251" of China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), China's first Oil Spill Recovery Vessel took part in this exercise.

As the member states of The Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), China and South Korea organized the exercise to strengthen the oil spill response collaboration, increase the capability in coordination, command and emergency response, and accumulate experience in establishing the mechanism of national oil spill emergency action involving international oil spill emergency powers. The participation of "Hai Yang Shi You 251" demonstrated CNOOC's commitment to marine environmental protection and China's capability in maritime rescue and the prevention and control of oil spilling.

In September 1994, initiated by the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea passed the Northwest Pacific Action Plan in order to settle oil pollution accidents at sea. In November 2004, the four states signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Cooperation in Marine Pollution Preparedness" and "Response and the Crash Program to Combat Oil Spills of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan", thereby the implementation mechanism of cooperation and assistance in combating oil spilling was established. According to the schedule of NOWPAP, Japan and Russia held an oil pollution exercise last year.