CNOOC head mum on disputed field

    The chairman and CEO of China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), refused to confirm rumors that his firm has begun output from a gas field that is in dispute with Japan. While announcing CNOOC’s 2006 results, Fu Chengyu said that he would not comment on whether Chunxiao gas field is producing. “The issue is too sensitive for me to say,” said Fu. However, he also said that “while the dispute should be dealt with between the Chinese and Japanese governments, CNOOC looks forward to co-development of Chunxiao gas field by companies in the two states.”