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Friday 16 March 2012

Vietnam is protesting plans by a Chinese oil company to take bids on developing energy deposits in the contested South China Sea, in a fresh sign that territorial disputes in the region may rise as Beijing, Hanoi and other regional claimants push ahead with development plans.

Vietnam said in a statement dated Thursday that it protests a decision last year by state-controlled China National Offshore Oil Corp. to open up bidding for 19 blocks in the South China Sea, which Vietnam refers to as the East Sea.

The statement singled out a block that it said is one mile from an island in the Paracel Island chain, which both countries claim.

ONGC Videsh, a subsidiary of India's main state oil company, Oil & Natural Gas Corp., has said it will begin drilling in the area under a deal with Vietnam.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577285152075207704.html

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Vietnam accuses China of violating sovereignty

Thursday 15 March 2012

Vietnam has accused China of violating its sovereignty in the latest spat between the communist neighbors over disputed islands in the South China Sea.

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry says in a statement Friday that a Chinese oil company has recently opened bidding for oil exploration near the Paracel islands, while earlier this month China conducted live firing exercises near the island and planned to expand tourism there.

China has occupied the Paracels since 1974, but Vietnam claims sovereignty.

The statement quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi as saying Chinese actions "seriously violate Vietnam's sovereignty ... and international laws."

Nghi demanded that China respect Vietnam's sovereignty and end violations.

http://www.sunherald.com/2012/03/15/3821507/vietnam-accuses-china-of-violating.html
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Philippine warship in standoff with China vessels

Tuesday 10 April 2012

The Philippines' largest warship was engaged in a tense standoff with Chinese surveillance vessels Wednesday at a disputed South China Sea shoal, after the ship attempted to arrest Chinese fishermen but was blocked by the surveillance craft.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario has summoned Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing in an attempt to resolve the impasse diplomatically. Del Rosario's office said in a statement that the Scarborough Shoal "is an integral part of Philippine territory" and Filipino authorities would assert sovereignty over the offshore area.

The Chinese Embassy has accused the Philippine warship of harassing the fishermen.

China and the Philippines both claim ownership of the shoal , which lies off the northwestern Philippine province of Zambales , as well as other areas in the South China Sea.

The Spratly Islands south of the shoal are claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. The chain of barren islands, reefs and coral outcrops are believed to be in rich in oil and gas and the overlapping claims have long been feared as Asia's next flashpoint for armed conflict.

The current standoff began Sunday when a Philippine navy surveillance plane sighted eight Chinese fishing vessels anchored in a lagoon at Scarborough, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said. That prompted the military to deploy its largest warship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which was recently acquired from the United States.

Two Chinese maritime surveillance ships, identified as Zhonggou Haijian 75 and Zhonggou Haijian 84, later approached and positioned themselves between the Philippine warship and the Chinese fishing vessels "thus preventing the arrests of the erring Chinese fishermen," the statement said.

Del Rosario protested to Ma, the Chinese ambassador in Manila, late Tuesday and told her that the navy would enforce Philippine laws, according to his office.

Last year, the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of intruding into other parts of what it considers Philippine territory in the South China Sea. China has regularly dismissed the protests, saying Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over those areas on historical grounds.

Faced with China's formidable military, the Philippines and Vietnam have forged closer ties. Aside from military accords, the two countries have agreed to set up a hotline between their coast guards and maritime police to monitor maritime incidents, such as piracy and incursions into their territorial waters.

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http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation_world/20120410_ap_philippinewarshipinstandoffwithchinavessels.html?ref=more-like-this

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