The nine blocks cover 160,124 square kilometres in water depths ranging from 300 to 4000 metres.
CNOOC said these blocks lie in the jurisdiction of China. On Tuesday, when asked at a press briefing if CNOOC’s move in the South China Sea might create tensions with Vietnam, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the tender is a “normal business activity” that is in compliance with relevant Chinese laws and international practices.
“China’s
