Petroleum association protests China’s bid invitation
The Vietnam Petroleum Association (VPA) has spoken out against a Chinese oil company, claiming that it has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty.
VPA state that the announcement made by the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation, (CNOOC) which invites international bids for nine oil and gas lots, breaches international and UN law.
The VPA believe the lots are located in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Outlined in a Declaration, released on June 29, the VPA confirmed that CNOOC invited international bids for nine lots located within Vietnam’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, which are absolutely non-disputed areas.
According to an investigation into the coordinates of the lots released by China, the association revealed that the lots are situated deep within the area of Vietnam’s continental shelf.
They assert that the coordinates overlap lots 128 to 132 and 145 to 156, where the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has been operating for a considerable time.
The association said the CNOOC’s invitation of international bids for exploration and production of the 160,129.38 sq km area on its website, in both English and Chinese languages, on June 23 2012, is an illegal act of no value, contrary to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and not commensurate with international oil and gas practices.
“This act gravely violates Vietnam’s sovereign rights, jurisdictional rights and national interests, complicating the situation and fanning tensions in the East Sea,” said the VPA.
The VPA strongly condemns the Chinese company’s action and requests that it immediately cease the unlawful bid-invitation; strictly comply with the agreements on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam-China sea issues; and respect international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.
VPA asks international oil and gas companies not to join the bidding for the nine oil and gas lots. .
VPA always attaches importance to promoting traditional friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese and Chinese people, and other nationals working in the oil and gas field, on the basis of respecting national independence, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of countries. .
VPA welcomes CNOOC, other Chinese and international oil and gas companies to work cooperatively with the association to ensure that Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf remain under Vietnamese sovereignty. .
For its part, VPA will coordinate with relevant Vietnamese agencies to provide support and ensure that these cooperative activities are implemented smoothly.