US-CHINA/VIETNAM-SOUTH CHINA SEA China says Vietnam cruise to South China Sea "violates" its sovereignty

Record ID: 150206

  • Title: US-CHINA/VIETNAM-SOUTH CHINA SEA China says Vietnam cruise to South China Sea "violates" its sovereignty
  • Date: 5th June 2015
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JUNE 5, 2015) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, HONG LEI, WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, HONG LEI, SAYING: "China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands and surrounding waters. Vietnam's actions violate China's sovereignty. We demand that Vietnam
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADEJAE2JJHVK1ZIZH3PBPDFFP3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China said on Friday (June 5) that Vietnam's offer to its citizens of a cruise to disputed South China Sea islands "violates" Chinese sovereignty.
    The comment came after Vietnam said it would offer scores of patriotic citizens the holiday of a lifetime with a cruise to some of Asia's most hotly contested islands.
    In a special $800 promotion offer, 180 Vietnamese will get to see parts of the disputed Spratly archipelago later this month and take part in night fishing, visit a lighthouse and enjoy local seafood.
    Those who sign up for the cruise will visit two reefs and two islands in the Spratlys, or Truong Sa in Vietnamese, which the country has occupied for some time despite rival claims.
    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei expressed anger at the move.
    "China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands and surrounding waters. Vietnam's actions violate China's sovereignty. We demand that Vietnam respect China's sovereignty, not take actions that complicate or magnify the situation, and make proper efforts to safeguard the peace and stability of the South China Sea," he said a regular news briefing.
    Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia each compete for jurisdiction of the Spratlys with China, which claims nine-tenths of the South China Sea, a vital global shipping lane with potentially vast energy reserves.
    The cruise mirrors those offered by China on ships like its "Coconut Princess", and illustrates a growing civilian presence in the South China Sea as countries vie to cement their competing claims.
    China has been criticised for extensive reclamation work and moves to turn submerged rocks into man-made structures. The United States last week said Beijing had placed mobile artillery systems in contested territory.
    Despite close party-to-party ties with Communist neighbour China and nearly $60 billion of annual trade, analysts say Vietnam has taken a harder line since a fresh territorial row erupted last year and wants to boost diplomatic and military alliances.
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