Chinese Foreign Ministry defends oil rig against Viet claims

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the country's operations in the South China Sea are normal business exploration in waters under the undisputed jurisdiction of China, after Vietnam urged on Thursday the country to move an oil rig in waters it claims.

"Vietnam resolutely demands that China cancel its plan to drill and immediately remove the rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 out of this area," Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh said Thursday.

The spokesperson added that China should take "no further unilateral action that further complicates the situation."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said on Friday's routine press conference that the operations are in waters under the undisputed jurisdiction of China. He added that the oil rig's operations are normal business activity.

It is hoped that the relevant party will be objective and reasonable about that, according to Hong.

As for Vietnam's criticism of China's decision to run a lighthouse on Zhubi Reef as violating Vietnam's sovereignty, Hong said that the islands are within China's territory.

Vietnam has protested against exploratory drilling operations by the Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig, which started operations in May 2014 near the Xisha Islands.
 [Global Times]
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