• It is the oil block that was given on lease to ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) for oil explorations in South China sea by Vietnam.
• The Oil Block 128 is part of 9 dash line of China, the region claimed by China in South China Sea.

The Block was recently in news as Vietnam has renewed the Vietnam-India Oil Deal and extended for another period of 2 years. India has been a strategic partner of Vietnam and provides naval patrol boats, satellite cover, training for submarines and fighter pilots to Vietnam.