CHINA US Focus - Perspectives shaping the world's most important bilateral relationship

CNOOC, China's top offshore oil producer, said on Tuesday a tender issued last month to invite firms to bid for oil and gas blocks in the South China Sea is progressing well, attracting interest from companies including from some U.S.-based ones.

 

The state-run firm in late June invited foreign companies to jointly develop nine blocks in the western part of the South China Sea, a move Vietnam said was illegal because the blocks overlap its territorial waters and ownership is disputed.