Friday 4 November 2011

China-US Energy Geopolitics: The Battle for Oil in the South China Sea

Global Research
Michel Chossudovsky

A new area of potential confrontation is developing between China and the U.S. According to reports, Exxon Mobil which has acquired exploration and production rights from Vietnam has discovered substantial gas reserves in the South China Sea  off the coast of North Vietnam.

"U.S. oil company ExxonMobil is reporting a "potentially significant" gas discovery off the coast of Vietnam, stating in a press release, "We can confirm ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Vietnam Limited drilled its second exploration well offshore Danang in August 2011 and encountered hydrocarbons." (See John C.K. Daly, Apocalypse Redux? U.S. Natural Gas Find off Vietnam Could Raise Tensions with China,  http://oilprice.com )

It is important to note that  these off-shore reserves are located between the North Vietnam coastline and China's Hainan island in an area of disputed jurisdiction between Vietnam and China. (see map above) The contested area is made up of blocks 117, 118 and 119, which according to Hanoi fall  within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone under international maritime law (Ibid)

On October 31, following the ExxonMobil discovery announcement, China responded by warning foreign companies not to meddle  "in areas also claimed by China." ( China again warns foreign oil firms on South China Sea exploration | Re [...]



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