The latest tender of offshore acreage by state China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOQ has struck a hitherto elusive balance between commercial ambition and political restraint The 25 blocks on offer provoked no diplomatic backlash from neighboring countries over disputed maritime boundaries, but did win praise from analysts as a step towards delivering China's deepwater production goals (PIW Oct.14' 13). CNOOC made 26 blocks available for joint development in August last year, but the overall size of the latest batch, which includes substantial acreage in deepwater areas of the South China Sea, is higher at 102,577 square kilometers.
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