雅虎新闻:中国结束南海石油勘探

中国正在南海撤离石油平台，外交部称撤离是由于勘探工作已完成，台风季节来临。据说已发现石油和天然气资源，评估采集到的数据后才能决定下一步行动。

一段时间以来据估计，越南党内发生分裂，一派支持对华强硬，自然对美国及其亚洲盟友亲近，另一派倾向于妥协。

前越南驻北京大使Nguyen Trong Vinh说 ，石油平台的撤离并不代表中国的态度转变，撤离是暂时的，也许只是由于台风季节来临，并不意味中国决心放弃对大部分南中国海的控制。

China ends drilling operations in disputed sea
Associated Press By CHRIS BRUMMITT
6 hours ago

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — China on Wednesday was moving a massive oil rig away from waters claimed by Vietnam after announcing the end of operations, a development that should end a tense standoff between the nations in the South China Sea.
But in withdrawing the rig on its own terms, Beijing has demonstrated it will not be stopped from carrying out exploration activities in waters it considers its own — regardless of the regional or international criticism such actions provoke.

China's Foreign Ministry said after the rig's withdrawal was announced that it was because the typhoon season was beginning and that its operations had been completed.

It said oil and gas has been discovered during the operation, but was assessing the data gathered before deciding its next move. It has always been unclear whether the Beijing deployed the rig for genuine exploration reasons or geopolitical ones. When it announced the deployment, Beijing said it would withdraw it on Aug. 15, also citing the typhoon season.

China's unwillingness to move the rig exposed Vietnam's lack of options when dealing with its giant neighbor. The workings of the government here are shrouded in secrecy, but it has long been assumed that the Party is split between a faction that favors a tough line against Beijing — and consequentially stronger ties with the United States and its allies in Asia — and those members who believe a compromise can be reached with their ideological allies to the north.

As a result of the rig placement, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said the country was preparing to file a legal challenge to China's claims in an international tribunal, something that risks angering China. It remains to be seen whether Vietnam will go ahead with that now the rig has been withdrawn.

Former Vietnamese ambassador to Beijing Nguyen Trong Vinh said China's removal of the rig didn't signal a change of attitude on behalf of the country.

"The removal of the oil rig from our continental shelf and exclusive economic zone is only temporary. Maybe they pulled out the oil rig ahead of the typhoon season. It does not mean that they have abandoned their resolve to take control of most of the East Sea," he said, using the Vietnamese term for the South China Sea.

http://news.yahoo.com/china-ends ... -sea-014239860.html



中国正在南海撤离石油平台，外交部称撤离是由于勘探工作已完成，台风季节来临。据说已发现石油和天然气资源，评估采集到的数据后才能决定下一步行动。

一段时间以来据估计，越南党内发生分裂，一派支持对华强硬，自然对美国及其亚洲盟友亲近，另一派倾向于妥协。

前越南驻北京大使Nguyen Trong Vinh说 ，石油平台的撤离并不代表中国的态度转变，撤离是暂时的，也许只是由于台风季节来临，并不意味中国决心放弃对大部分南中国海的控制。

China ends drilling operations in disputed sea
Associated Press By CHRIS BRUMMITT
6 hours ago

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — China on Wednesday was moving a massive oil rig away from waters claimed by Vietnam after announcing the end of operations, a development that should end a tense standoff between the nations in the South China Sea.
But in withdrawing the rig on its own terms, Beijing has demonstrated it will not be stopped from carrying out exploration activities in waters it considers its own — regardless of the regional or international criticism such actions provoke.

China's Foreign Ministry said after the rig's withdrawal was announced that it was because the typhoon season was beginning and that its operations had been completed.

It said oil and gas has been discovered during the operation, but was assessing the data gathered before deciding its next move. It has always been unclear whether the Beijing deployed the rig for genuine exploration reasons or geopolitical ones. When it announced the deployment, Beijing said it would withdraw it on Aug. 15, also citing the typhoon season.

China's unwillingness to move the rig exposed Vietnam's lack of options when dealing with its giant neighbor. The workings of the government here are shrouded in secrecy, but it has long been assumed that the Party is split between a faction that favors a tough line against Beijing — and consequentially stronger ties with the United States and its allies in Asia — and those members who believe a compromise can be reached with their ideological allies to the north.

As a result of the rig placement, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said the country was preparing to file a legal challenge to China's claims in an international tribunal, something that risks angering China. It remains to be seen whether Vietnam will go ahead with that now the rig has been withdrawn.

Former Vietnamese ambassador to Beijing Nguyen Trong Vinh said China's removal of the rig didn't signal a change of attitude on behalf of the country.

"The removal of the oil rig from our continental shelf and exclusive economic zone is only temporary. Maybe they pulled out the oil rig ahead of the typhoon season. It does not mean that they have abandoned their resolve to take control of most of the East Sea," he said, using the Vietnamese term for the South China Sea.

http://news.yahoo.com/china-ends ... -sea-014239860.html