Vietnam protests ‘serious violation of sovereignty’ after China deploys missile system to disputed island in South China Sea
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had urged claimants to refrain from island -building and militarisation in the South China Sea.
Vietnam protested to China yesterday at a “serious violation” of its sovereignty over Beijing’s apparent deployment of an advanced missile system on a disputed South China Sea island, while Australia and New Zealand urged Chinese restraint.
Tensions between China and its neighbours over maritime territory have risen since reports Beijing had placed surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island, part of the Paracel archipelago.
“Vietnam is deeply concerned about the actions by China. These are serious infringements of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracels, threatening peace and stability in the region as well as security, safety and freedom of navigation and flight,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said in a statement. “Vietnam demands China immediately stop such erroneous actions.”
Vietnam is deeply concerned about the actions by China. These are serious infringements of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracels
The statement said diplomatic notes had been issued to China’s embassy in Hanoi and to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to protest at Beijing’s activities, including the building of a military helicopter base on Duncan island.
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had urged claimants to refrain from island -building and militarisation in the South China Sea.
“It is absolutely critical that we ensure that there is a lowering of tensions,” said Turnbull after a meeting in Sydney with New Zealand counterpart John Key.
Key said New Zealand was leveraging its relationship with China to urge measures to lower tensions.
The comments come after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited Beijing, where she raised the issues of the missiles and the South China Sea with top diplomat Yang Jiechi.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Australia and New Zealand “are not countries involved in the South China Sea”.
“We hope the two countries can objectively view the historical developments of the South China Sea, not neglect the facts, and not put forward proposals that are unconstructive,” Hong said.
