Over the past month of so, I have been hearing stories about China drilling for oil off the coast of Cuba (therefore off the coast of Florida).  While I have not been able to totally substantiate these stories, I have come up with some information. At factcheck.org there is an article on this subject.  This is what is stated: 

“Cuba has leased exploration blocks to foreign companies for areas as close as 60 miles off Florida’s southern coast. A 2006 New York Times article said China was one of the countries that had negotiated an offshore lease. But experts quoted recently by The Associated Press say none of the companies involved are Chinese and all are only allowed to explore for now, not drill in the region. Another exploration deal was announced between Brazil’s state oil company, Petrobras, and Cuba. The deal would allow Petrobras to explore in Cuba’s offshore territories in the Gulf of Mexico, with a potential drilling start-date in two years.”

I have two questions.  First, if other countries are doing the preliminary work for drilling off our coasts, why aren’t we?  Second, who is likely to be more environmentally responsible in drilling off America’s coast, Americans or other countries (who has the best environmental record on drilling?)?