China warns foreign companies to keep off South China sea

BEIJING: Days after India and China discussed the issue of oil exploration in the South China Sea, Beijing on Monday warned that it did not want foreign companies to engage in activities in the disputed waters.

Oil exploration activities by India's ONGC Videsh in the waters off Vietnam had recently irked China and the two countries had differences over the issue.

The South China Sea dispute figured in talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Bali last week on the sidelines of East Asia and Asean summits.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told on Monday that the country has more than once made it clear that it did not want outside forces involved in the dispute. About the South China Sea issue figuring in the Singh-Wen talks, Liu said "as for the discussion on South China Sea issue, China has expounded its position many times".

"We don't hope to see outside forces involved in the South China Sea dispute, and do not want to see foreign companies engage in activities that will undermine China's sovereignty and rights and interests," he said.