Asia

US Blacklists Major Chinese Oil Firm Over South China Sea ‘Coercion’

A Vietnamese naval vessel, with a Chinese oil drilling rig visible in the background, patrols in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands in 2014. The islands are claimed by China and Vietnam. / Kyodo

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By Kyodo News 15 January 2021

WASHINGTON—The US government said Thursday that it is taking further actions to preserve a “free and open” South China Sea such as by adding major oil company China National Offshore Oil Corp. to its economic blacklist.

The measure, which came just days before the end of the administration of President Donald Trump, was taken against the company in light of its role in Beijing’s campaign of “coercion against other claimants of an estimated $2.5 trillion [3,332 trillion kyats] in South China Sea oil and gas resources,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.