2012年中海油发布南海油气对外招标公告的法律问题研究

Legal Analysis on Invitation of Bids for Oil and Gas Exploration in South China Sea by CNOOC in 2012

2012年6月,中海油发布了中国南沙海域部分油气区块对外招标公告。对其合法性,中、越双方持截然不同的立场。中方认为该行为符合中国法律和国际惯例,而越方则声称该行为违背《海洋法公约》和国际惯例,是非法和无效的。从法律角度分析,中海油此次公布的9个招标区块很可能全部位于中越争议海域,且此次的招标行为并不违反《海洋法公约》和国际惯例。此外,中海油此次的招标行为对中国在南海断续线内的权利主张可能产生一定程度的影响。

China＇s National Offshore Oil Corporation （CNOOC） has, on 23 June 2012, invited bids for nine blocks for oil ＆ gas exploration in Nansha offshore areas. But, both China and Vietnam expressed diametrically op- posed positions to the legality of CNOOC＇s bids. China insists that CNOOC＇s behavior complies with China＇s rele- vant laws and international practice, while Vietnam declares that the bidding practice is a serious violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea （UNCLOS） and international practice. And the bidding is illegal and ineffective. Actually, it is probably true that all of the nine blocks are the disputed waters between China and Vietnam. But CNOOC＇s bidding behavior complies with UNCLOS and international practice in terms of law. In ad- dition, the bidding practice will possibly influence China＇s claim on the U - shaped line in South China Sea to some extent.