Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi. (Photo: Chinhphu.vn)

(VOVworld) – Vietnam strongly protests and requests that China cease the invitation of international bids for 09 oil and gas lots within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi made the statement on Tuesday after the China National Offshore Oil Corporation invited international bidders for the lots last week. Nghi said first, it is necessary to confirm that the area where the China National Offshore Oil Corporation made available to international bidding lies entirely within Vietnam’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. He insisted that this is absolutely not a disputed area. The spokesman emphasized that the open invitation for bids on an area in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf by China is baseless and illegal. He added it seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereign rights, jurisdiction rights, and legitimate national interest as well as the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which China itself is a member State. Moreover, it complicates the already tense situation in the East Sea. Nghi said that Vietnam strongly requests China to strictly comply with the basic principles guiding the implementation of Vietnam-China sea issues, and respect international law, especially the UNCLOS and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.
General Director of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN)  Do Van Hau on Wednesday convened a media conference on China’s invitation of international bids for 9 oil and gas lots within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Hau said the English and Chinese language website of China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) on June 23rd announced invitation for bidding 9 oil and gas lots covering 160,000 square km with foreign companies in 2012. Hau said these lots lies entirely within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and overlaps lots from 128 to 132 and from 145 to 156 that PVN has been conducting oil and gas development activities so far. PVN confirms that open invitation for bids is within Vietnam’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf  and this is absolutely not a disputed area: “This act is wrong and invalid, running counter to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international practice. This act seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereign rights, jurisdiction rights, and legitimate national interest and make the situation in the East Sea more complicated. PNV calls strongly oppose and call on CNOOC to cancel the illegal invitation of bidding and seriously abide by the basic principles guiding the implementation of Vietnam-China sea issues, and respect international law, especially the UNCLOS and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.”