Recently, Wu Shicun, president of National Institute for South China Sea Studies has claimed that the area in Xisha Islands where China is carrying out oil exploration belongs to China exclusive economic zone without any dispute. 

 

Since May 2, Vietnam has interfered in Oil Exploration carried out by COSL (China Oilfield Service Limited) in Xisha Island. China has repeatedly demanded Vietnam for respecting China's sovereignty, stopping interference and withdrawing people from sea area. However, the number of Vietnamese ships is increasing and continuing colliding China's ships.

 

Wu introduced that the area where Vietnam interferes is located at 15°29'58" north latitude, 111°12'06" east longtitude, sea are of Xisha Islands. The distance from Zhongjian Island is 17 miles, from the coast of Vietnam is 150 miles. China has jurisdiction for Xisha Islands. The sea area where drilling platform built belongs to Xisha Islands. China has in contestable rights for resources development.

 

Wu said that South China Sea has abundant oil and gas. However, all of states which conflicts with China have carried out oil exploration there except for China. China has no one oil well in South China Sea. Oil and gas resources are plundered seriously. 

 

"China has planed for oil exploration in Xisha Islands." Wu said. "Offshore Oil 981", the first China's semi-submersible platform design and built autonomously was begun to build in April, 2008. It is designed according to natural condition of South China Sea, having the first-rate design concept and equipments. It can anchor moored position under 1500 meters of the sea. In May 2012, the platform started to drill, indicating that China could conduct oil exploration independently.  

 

Wu analyzed that Vietnam has 2 purposes. The first one is that Vietnam attempts to seek more profits in South China Sea, by utilizing domestic soaring public opinion to press China. The second is that Vietnam attempts to earn sympathy from abroad with the help of Obama's Asia visit. It shows that Vietnamese attempts for Xisha Islands cannot be ignored. 

 

The oil exploration in Xisha Islands is part of China's oil and gas development in South China Sea. "China has explored oil in sea area of Xisha Islands for a long time. It will not be stopped for interference of Vietnam." Wu said.