VN slams China dredging project

 Viet Nam has condemned China for dredging channels around Drummond Island, a small part of Viet Nam's Hoang Sa archipelago (Paracel Islands).

According to China's Xinhua News Agency, the work is being done to ease access for Chinese fishermen and supply boats.

Le Hai Binh, spokesperson for the Vietnamese Foreign Affairs Ministry, told a regular press conference yesterday that all of China's activities within the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos were invalid and illegal.


At the meeting, Binh confirmed that China had removed its Haiyang Shiyou-981oil rig and all accompanying vessels from Vietnamese waters but said Viet Nam was still closely monitoring activities.

Binh also claimed that Viet Nam and China's bilateral relations were still normal during the stand-off that lasted for two months. He also refuted rumours that Vietnam Airlines had cancelled flights from Viet Nam to China this year.

Regarding news that three Vietnamese women were killed and two others injured in a stabbing incident in China's Guangxi on July 22, Binh said the Ministry had instructed all Vietnamese agencies in Guangxi to help provide treatment for the injured and funeral services for those who died.

A representative from the Foreign Affairs Ministry also visited the Chinese Embassy in Ha Noi to discuss the incident yesterday.

Answering a question about Finnish customs seizing a suspected shipment of Vietnamese military equipment bound for Ukraine on July 18, Binh said it was sent to be repaired.