China optimistic on solving sea dispute<\/p>\n
BEIJING (AFP): Beijing's foreign ministry yesterday voiced
\noptimism that China would be able to resolve a maritime dispute
\nwith Vietnam, and announced plans for a vice-ministerial meeting
\non the issue next week.<\/p>\n
Expert-level negotiators from China and Vietnam completed two
\ndays of talks in Beijing Thursday aimed at resolving a dispute
\nover China's deployment of an exploratory oil rig in a disputed
\nsea area on March 7.<\/p>\n
"The meeting was held in a very good atmosphere and the two
\nsides had friendly and frank discussions," a ministry official
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"We think this issue should be handled by the two countries
\nconcerned and we are quite confident that we will be able to
\nsolve it."<\/p>\n
The Chinese official, who requested anonymity, said the China-
\nASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) meeting scheduled
\nfor April 17 to April 19 in eastern China, would provide a
\nfurther opportunity for at least vice-minister level discussions
\nof the issue.<\/p>\n
"The Vietnamese vice foreign minister (Vu Khoan) will attend
\nthe ASEAN meeting next week so I think that Chinese Vice Foreign
\nMinister Tang Jaixuan should be able to talk with him (on this
\nissue)," the official said.<\/p>\n
"As for whether this issue will be raised at the senior
\nofficials meeting, this is not a forum to discuss bilateral
\nissues, but whatever questions are raised at the meeting, the
\nChinese side will be happy to express their position."<\/p>\n
The Kantan III rig -- which was withdrawn shortly before the
\ntalks -- was drilling in a disputed zone just south of the Gulf
\nof Tonkin, which is almost halfway between the central-Vietnamese
\ncoast and the Chinese island of Hainan.<\/p>\n
The zone is believed to be rich in natural gas.<\/p>\n
China and Vietnam have twice run into territorial disputes in
\nthe South China Sea, first in 1974 over the Paracel islands and
\nagain in 1988 over the Spratly Islands.<\/p>\n
Further trouble brewed when China signed an exploration
\nagreement with the U.S.-based Crestone Energy Corp in 1992 to
\ndrill for oil near the Spratlys.<\/p>\n
The oil-rich Spratly Islands are claimed wholly or in part by
\nBrunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam which are all
\nASEAN members.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-optimistic-on-solving-sea-dispute-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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