Economic Times: Vietnam Invites India to Explore Resources in Disputed South China Sea Region

Vietnam on Wednesday invited strategic partner India to explore and exploit natural resources within the Southeast Asian countries 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea (SCS) region where China has deployed fighter jets besides surface-to-air missiles ratcheting up tensions.

"Vietnam has sovereign rights and jurisdiction within 200 nautical miles of our EEZ and continental shelf in accordance with UNCLOS 1982. We are determined to protect our rights and maintain regular activities in our sovereign waters. Accordingly, we shall continue to cooperate with other countries including India to explore and exploit resources within our 200-nautical-mile EEZ," Vietnam's Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh told a select group of audience here amid fresh US reports on Wednesday that Chinese Shenyang J-11 and Xian JH-7 warplanes have been spotted on Woody Island in the disputed Paracel Islands chain over the past few days in SCS. MORE