Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Vietnam Signals It Wants Exxon Deal Despite China Warning

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Vietnam Signals It Wants Exxon Deal Despite China Warning

Vietnam on Thursday signaled it wants to continue with a joint oil exploration project with Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) in disputed waters, despite a warning from China to the U.S. energy giant to drop the deal.
Vietnam - without mentioning the specific contract, a preliminary cooperation pact with state-run PetroVietnam - reasserted its claim over parts of the South China Sea that are the subject of a dispute with China.
"We have confirmed that all Vietnamese cooperation with foreign partners in the field of petroleum is conducted in Vietnamese territorial waters and in the exclusive economic zone," said foreign ministry spokesman Le Dung.
"These are totally under the sovereignty and right of Vietnam and in line with the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as other bilateral and multilateral agreements between Vietnam and foreign partners."
Hong Kong's Sunday Morning Post newspaper, citing unnamed sources close to Exxon, reported this week China had warned it to drop the deal and said the project could threaten future mainland contracts.
Beijing, which is in dispute with a number of nations as it claims vast swathes of the South China Sea, says Vietnam's central and southern offshore coastal waters - site of the exploration - are part of its historic territory.
"China's position on the South China Sea is clear and consistent," said foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.
"China opposes any actions that infringe upon China's sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction over the South China Sea."
Le Dung said "Vietnam will ensure all the legitimate interests of foreign investors when they operate in Vietnam.
"We welcome and shall facilitate all cooperation with foreign partners, including Chinese investors operating in Vietnam, on the basis of full respect for our sovereignty."
Last year, China criticized a deal between Vietnam and British energy giant BP (BP) near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, saying the area has been an "indisputable part of Chinese territory since ancient times."
China and Vietnam - who in 1979 fought a short border war after Vietnam expelled the Beijing-backed Khmer Rouge from Cambodia - also fought a brief naval battle in 1988 near the Spratly Islands

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.