ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), in collaboration with Vietnamese companies, has been engaged in exploration activity in the South China Sea since 1988. China, which is a party to the South China Sea dispute, has raised its concerns on India’s hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation projects in the South China Sea off the coast of Vietnam. Government has clearly conveyed that such activity by Indian companies is purely commercial in nature and that the dispute must be resolved peacefully by the countries concerned.

This information was given by the Minister of State for External Affairs Shri E. Ahamed in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.