China implied on Tuesday that it would oppose the India-Vietnam oil deal if it allowed Indian multinational giant Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)'s to conduct oil well exploration in the South China Sea.

The imminent opposition to the agreement was conveyed the night before Chinese President Xi Jinping's flight to India on Tuesday. Foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said Beijing would object to the deal if it is not sanctioned by their government, Times of India relayed.

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Hong released the comments in response to questions about Indian President Pranab Mukherjee sealing a deal while in Vietnam for a visit. He pointed out Beijing's "indisputable sovereignty" over the nearby waters including Nansha islands.

The Chinese spokesman said Beijing would only support the oil exploration deal if it were "legitimate and lawful" and if it did not concern the highly disputed waters that China administers.

In a separate explanation to Indian media, Hong clarified that China's stand in the agreement does not only involve the one between India and Vietnam. Beijing also has the same position when it comes to Vietnam's deals with other countries, The Economic Times cited Hong as saying.

In the past, China has also objected to the location of wells that Hanoi allotted to ONGC. Beijing claims ownership of most of the South China Sea, a claim that triggered disputes with neighboring countries Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

Despite the ongoing territorial dispute, Hong urged the two countries to continuously exert efforts to patch up their differences and keep the border area stable and peaceful, the report said.

In preparation for Xi's visit to India, the Chinese foreign ministry emphasized the importance of working towards the realization of the two nations' goals. Hong said China and India are willing to support each other in the name of joint economic and global development.

TagsIndia-Vietnam, oil exploration deal, ONGC