Vietnam slams China’s island oil bid call

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on August 31 protested against China’s plan to invite international bids for oil block 65/12, about 3 nautical miles off Cay (Tree) Island of the country’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago.”

Vietnam protests Chinese oil company’s move

Nghi was responding media inquiries over China National Oil Corporation’s call on August 25 for international bidding for 26 oil and gas blocks, including the 65/12.

He said the action seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa, goes against common sense of the two countries’ high level leaders and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN and China in 2002.

He also described the action as “unlawful” and declared it null and void and said Vietnam requested China to cancel it.

VNS/VOV online