(VOVworld) - The VIetnam's Lawyers Association has protested Chinese corporation's bid for nine oil and gas lots within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The lots are situated deep within the area of the Vietnamese continental shelf, and overlap with lots 128 to 132 and 145 to 156 where the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group has been operating for a considerable time. The Association said it strongly supports statements by the spokesperson for Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday asking China to cease the bidding immediately as it further complicates the situation in the East Sea. According to the Vietnam’s Lawyers Association, this act by the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation seriously violates the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Vietnam’s sovereign right, jurisdictional right and national interest. The Association said this also goes against the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed between China and ASEAN member countries in 2002 and agreements on basic principles for settlements of sea related issues between Vietnam and China last October. The Association also called on countries to raise their voice for justice asking the Chinese side to respect international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. 

In its statement, the Vietnam’s Lawyers Association expressed its support for the statement by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs made on June 21^st to protest China’s decision to establish “Sansha city” on Hoang Sa or Paracel and Truong Sa or Spratly archipelagoes.