Disputes over Drilling and Exploration in the South China Sea
| Date | Countries | Disputes |
|---|---|---|
1992 |
China, Vietnam |
China signs a contract with U.S. firm Crestone in May to explore for oil near the Spratly Islands in an area that Vietnam says is located on its continental shelf, over 600 miles south of China's Hainan Island. In September, Vietnam accuses China of drilling for oil in Vietnamese waters in the Gulf of Tonkin. |
1994 |
China, Vietnam |
Crestone joins with a Chinese partner to explore China's Wan' Bei-21 (WAB-21 block. Vietnam protests that the exploration is in Vietnamese waters in their blocks 133, 134, and 135. |
1996 |
China, Vietnam |
Vietnam leases exploration blocks to U.S. firm Conoco in April. Vietnamese blocks 133 and 134 cover half the zone leased to Crestone by China. In May, China reaffirms a national law claiming the South China Sea as its own. |
1997 |
China, Vietnam |
Vietnamese protest after Chinese Kantan-3 oil rig drills near Spratly Islands in March. The drilling occurrs offshore Da Nang, in an area Vietnam calls Block 113. The block is located 64 nautical miles off Chan May cape in Vietnam, and 71 nautical miles off China's Hainan Island. |
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