China has ended its oil exploration in contested waters claimed by Vietnam after two and half month-long drilling operations which resulted in a tense standoff between the two nations in the South China Sea.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the drilling operation by the HYSY 981 rig off a Xisha island also known as Paracel Islands in the South China sea has been completed.
Quoting China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and China Oilfield Services Limited, ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the Chinese companies began the drilling operation off Zhongjian Island, one of the Xisha Islands on May 2.
Work was completed on July 15 as scheduled, Hong said adding that the companies will analyse and assess the geological data collected and decide on the next step.
He said, Xisha Islands are inherent territory of China and that the operation was conducted in indisputable inshore waters off Xisha, which completely falls within China's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.
"China strongly opposes Vietnam's irrational disruptions and has taken necessary security measures to ensure the operation," Hong said in a statement.
Carefully cultivated ties between Communist neighbours China and Vietnam nose dived after Beijing moved the rig along with flotilla boats to guarding it to assert its control.
Vietnam resisted it pressing dozens of naval and fishing boats which collided with Chinese boats. The clashes sparked anti-China riots in Vietnam in which two Chinese were killed and over a hundred injured. Over 460 factories mainly belonged to Chinese investors were attacked by mobs and set fire to them.
As the situation became serious, China evacuated over 7000 Chinese workers back to the country.
Vietnam along with Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei contests China's claims of sovereignty over all most of all the South China Sea citing historic evidence.
Philippines sought UN arbitration to assert claims but China refused to take part.
China also asked US and other countries not to intervene in the maritime disputes with neighbours stating that it should be resolved bilaterally between the parties themselves.
