Cheney: China is drilling in Cuba; Martinez: No, it isn't

Florida's Mel Martinez took to the Senate floor today to refute Republican assertions that China is drilling off the coast of Cuba.

"Reports to the contrary are simply false," Martinez said. "They are akin to urban legends. China drilling off the coast of Cuba only 60 miles from the Keys, that is not taking place..."

Republicans have pushed the "someone is drilling 60 miles off the Florida coast" for 2 years to back up efforts to open the coastline up to drilling. But experts familiar with the situation say there's no proof.

That's not stopping the story from making the rounds: speaking at the US Chamber of Commerce vice president Dick Cheney today quoted columnist George Will as saying "oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida..."

Here's more of what Martinez had to say:

"While speaking of the Chinese, we know they're looking for ways to increase their own oil production. Despite what is cited as fact here in the Senate and other places, China is not drilling off the coast of Cuba.

"I’ve taken the time to research this issue because it created some interest in me because of my own interest in this area of the world and according to the Congressional Research Service, China only owns one plot where they could explore. It happens to be this little green spot right here, number three and whether it is under production or not, it is not clear but it is for sure on land and not offshore. This was also confirmed by the Miami University Center for Hemispheric Policy and the fellow at that center, Jorge Piñón, who said that there is no drilling taking place offshore in Cuba by the Chinese or according to my sources by any other country.

"

Reports to the contrary are simply false. They are akin to urban legends. China drilling off the coast of Cuba only 60 miles from the Keys, that is not taking place. To my knowledge there's only one company, a Spanish company Repsol, that has purchased a lease off of Cuba’s shore and they tell me they have no current plans for any production there in the foreseeable future. There is a possibility that the Canadians may have something happening there, but I am not aware of that either. So any talk of using some fabricated Cuba-China connection as an argument to change U.S. policy has no merit.

And here's the veep's full remarks:

"It's my own view that we should be drilling in ANWR in an environmentally responsible way, which could increase our daily domestic oil production by as much as a million barrels a day. As for other locations, George Will pointed out in his column the other day that oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. But we’re not doing it, the Chinese are, in cooperation with the Cuban government.Even the communists have figured out that a good answer to high prices is more supply.

"Yet Congress has said no to drilling in ANWR, no to drilling off the East Coast, no to drilling off the West Coast, no to drilling off Florida. Given the high prices Americans are now paying, we should hear no more complaining from politicians who’ve stood in the way of increasing energy production inside this country. They are part of the problem." 

Here's more of what Martinez had to say:

"While speaking of the Chinese, we know they're looking for ways to increase their own oil production. Despite what is cited as fact here in the Senate and other places, China is not drilling off the coast of Cuba.

"I’ve taken the time to research this issue because it created some interest in me because of my own interest in this area of the world and according to the Congressional Research Service, China only owns one plot where they could explore. It happens to be this little green spot right here, number three and whether it is under production or not, it is not clear but it is for sure on land and not offshore. This was also confirmed by the Miami University Center for Hemispheric Policy and the fellow at that center, Jorge Piñón, who said that there is no drilling taking place offshore in Cuba by the Chinese or according to my sources by any other country.

"

Reports to the contrary are simply false. They are akin to urban legends. China drilling off the coast of Cuba only 60 miles from the Keys, that is not taking place. To my knowledge there's only one company, a Spanish company Repsol, that has purchased a lease off of Cuba’s shore and they tell me they have no current plans for any production there in the foreseeable future. There is a possibility that the Canadians may have something happening there, but I am not aware of that either. So any talk of using some fabricated Cuba-China connection as an argument to change U.S. policy has no merit.

And here's the veep's full remarks:

"It's my own view that we should be drilling in ANWR in an environmentally responsible way, which could increase our daily domestic oil production by as much as a million barrels a day. As for other locations, George Will pointed out in his column the other day that oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. But we’re not doing it, the Chinese are, in cooperation with the Cuban government.Even the communists have figured out that a good answer to high prices is more supply.

"Yet Congress has said no to drilling in ANWR, no to drilling off the East Coast, no to drilling off the West Coast, no to drilling off Florida. Given the high prices Americans are now paying, we should hear no more complaining from politicians who’ve stood in the way of increasing energy production inside this country. They are part of the problem."