Chinese FM confirms drilling off Xisha completed  

外交部发言人洪磊就中建南项目完成作业答记者问

外交部发言人洪磊:根据中国有关企业提供的消息，中国“海洋石油981”钻井平台在西沙群岛中建岛附近海域的钻探作业于5月2日开始，并于7月15日按期顺利完成。有关企业将在分析和评估所取得的地质资料基础上，研究制定下步工作方案。[查看全文]

A drilling operation by the HYSY 981 rig has been completed off a Xisha island in the South China Sea, China's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

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.

CNPC has been exploring the area since 2004.

Hong said the companies will analyze and assess the geological data collected and decide on the next step.

The spokesman also noted the 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 added.