US concerned over China鈥檚 鈥榠nterference鈥� in South China Sea

AP
The US expressed concern over reports that China is hampering other countries' oil and gas activities in the South China Sea and accused Beijing of acting like a bully. (File/AFP)
  • Vietnam on Friday demanded China remove a survey ship from Vanguard Bank
  • Chinese coast guard vessels have also been reported near a drilling rig in the same area where Vietnam has contracted Russia鈥檚 Rosneft to develop gas fields

HANOI: The US says it鈥檚 concerned by reports of China鈥檚 interference with oil and gas activities in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, where Vietnam says Beijing violated its sovereignty.
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus says in a statement that China鈥檚 鈥渞epeated provocative actions aimed at the offshore oil and gas development of other claimant states threaten regional energy security and undermine the free and open Indo-Pacific energy market.鈥�
Vietnam on Friday demanded China remove a survey ship from Vanguard Bank, which it says lies within Vietnam鈥檚 200-mile exclusive economic zone. China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety.
Chinese coast guard vessels have also been reported near a drilling rig in the same area where Vietnam has contracted Russia鈥檚 Rosneft to develop gas fields.

Topics: US South China Sea China