Associated Press, 05.27.11,
04:20 AM EDT
HANOI, Vietnam
— A Vietnamese official has accused China
of threatening a boat that was conducting research for potential oil drilling
sites within Vietnam’s
territorial waters.
The official Vietnam News Agency quoted Do Van Hau, deputy
director general of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, or PetroVietnam, as saying three
Chinese patrol boats damaged equipment being used to carry out a seismic survey
in the South China Sea on Thursday.
director general of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, or PetroVietnam, as saying three
Chinese patrol boats damaged equipment being used to carry out a seismic survey
in the South China Sea on Thursday.
He urged the Vietnamese government on Friday to launch a strong
protest against China,
demanding that the state-owned company’s operations be allowed to continue
without interference.
Vietnam
and China have long clashed
over disputed territory in the South China Sea
where rich oil and gas reserves are believed to exist.