Oil companies deny Philippine exploration bids

Officials say areas offered in South China Sea include Chinese territory

BEIJING - Three Chinese oil companies denied recent media reports that they had bid for oil exploration contracts in the South China Sea from the Philippine government, People's Daily reported.

Citing Jose Layug, Philippine energy undersecretary, AFP said on Aug 2 that China's State-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is among the three.