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, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on June 26. 

Spokesman Nghi made the statement after the China National Offshore Oil Corporation invited international bidders for the lots on June 23. 
The spokesperson said “First of all, it is necessary to affirm that the area where the China National Offshore Oil Corporation put out for international bidding lies entirely within Vietnam’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This is absolutely not a disputed area.” 
Nghi stressed that the openly invitation of bids for an area in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf by China is an illegal activity of no value, which seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereign rights, jurisdiction right and legitimate national interest as well as the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to which China itself is a member State, complicates the situation and causes tensions in the East Sea. 
Vietnam strongly condemns and requests that China cease the above mentioned wrongful bid invitation, take no further actions that can complicate the situation in the East Sea and expand disputes, strictly comply with the agreement on the basic principles guiding the implementation of Vietnam-China sea issues, and respect international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, concluded the spokesperson.

Source: VietNamNet/Vietnam Plus