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Vietnam protests Philippine maritime law: report
Hanoi (AFP) March 13, 2009 Vietnam protested against a bill signed into law in the Philippines, saying that it lays claim to parts of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, state media said Friday. "Vietnam protests against the act and calls on the Philippines to refrain from undertaking similar actions so as not to affect peace and stability in the region and the growing ties between the two countries", foreign affairs spokesman Le Dung was quoted as saying in Vietnam News daily. "This act seriously infringes upon Vietnam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago and complicates the situation," he added. Earlier this week, President Gloria Arroyo signed into law a controversial bill defining the Philippines' maritime boundaries, a move already denounced by China. Arroyo's chief aide, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, said the "baselines law" did not openly claim the Spratly islands, but added the Philippines' claim to the area was already covered by existing laws and did not have to be covered by the new legal document. The Spratlys sit astride important sea lanes and may contain significant oil and gas deposits. The islands are claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. On Friday, Vietnam also protested against an authorisation given by China to a tourism firm to begin tours to an island in the Paracel, another disputed archipelago in the area over which China and Vietnam claim sovereignty. "Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos", Dung was quoted as saying in Vietnam News. Related Links Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Iraq, China open major oil field
Kut, Iraq (AFP) March 12, 2009Chinese engineers have inaugurated an Iraqi oil field, the first major oil development deal secured by a foreign firm since the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein, officials said on Thursday. |
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