FM: Oil, gas exploration 'violates consensus'

BEIJING - The Foreign Ministry on Saturday expressed opposition to Vietnam's offshore exploration of oil and gas in China's jurisdictional area of the South China Sea, saying the activity had violated the consensus reached by the two nations.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the remarks after Hanoi complained that Chinese marine surveillance vessels interfered with its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea and accused Beijing of violating its sovereignty.

"China's stance on the South China Sea is clear and consistent. Vietnam's exploration of oil and gas in China's jurisdictional sea area has undermined China's interests and jurisdictional rights in the South China Sea and violated the consensus both countries have reached on the issue. We oppose it," said Jiang.