China/Vietnam/South China Sea: Vietnam Threatens Fines for Illegal Energy Exploration in Its Waters

Aug 31, 2020 | Drake Long, Benar News
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Vietnam has issued a new decree against illegal energy exploration in its territory on land and sea, threatening violators with fines and potentially seizing their property, state media reported Monday. The law applies to both Vietnamese entities and foreign nationals, and is not explicitly aimed at any particular companies or countries. But Vietnam has long-standing differences with China over competing claims to the South China Sea and rights to resources there.