Vietnam rejects China’s illegal oil bid invitation

Vietnam rejects China’s announcement to invite foreign oil firms to tender for exploration off Hoang Sa archipelago.

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s announcement to invite foreign oil firms to tender for exploration at the block 65/12, some three nautical miles off Cay Island of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty.

Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi made the statement while answering correspondents’ query on Vietnam’s response to the Chinese oil corporation’s invitation for international bids for 26 blocks, including the 65/12.

“China’s invitation for international bid for the block (65/12) seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa, goes against the common awareness reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed between ASEAN and China in 2002, and is an illegal and valueless activity.”

“Vietnam rejects the China’s activity and requests Chinese side to immediately annul the international bid for this block.”

Earlier on June 26, Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi also rejected the Chinese oil corporation’s June 23 bid invitation for nine blocks which lie entirely within Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.