Vietnam Protests Chinese Military Drills In The South China Sea

A crewman from the Vietnamese coastguard ship 8003 looks out at sea as Chinese coastguard vessels give chase to Vietnamese ships that came close to the Haiyang Shiyou 981, known in Vietnam as HD-981, oil rig in the South China Sea, July 15, 2014. REUTERS/Martin Petty

Reuters: Vietnam protests Chinese military drills in South China Sea

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam’s foreign ministry has lodged a complaint with China over military drills in the South China Sea that it said were “detrimental” to Beijing’s relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Vietnam and the Philippines warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at a regional summit last Friday, amid concerns that China was using the cover of the coronavirus pandemic as a means to step up its activity in the disputed waterway.

On Wednesday, China began five days of drills in waters near the Paracel Islands, where Vietnam has competing claims, according to a June 27 announcement by the Maritime Safety Administration of Hainan, a large provincial island off China’s southern coast.

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Update #1: Vietnam protests Chinese military exercises in East Sea -- VN Express
Update #2: China Conducts Naval Drills in South China Sea -- The Diplomat

WNU Editor: The Philippines are also protesting .... Lorenzana: Chinese military drills in South China Sea 'highly-provocative' (ABS-CBN).