Vietnam-China rift grows

Vietnam announced Friday that it would hold a live-fire naval drill next week in the South China Sea as an escalating maritime dispute fuels tensions with Beijing.

Relations between China and Vietnam are at their worst in years as the two countries trade accusations over recent confrontations between their ships in potentially energy-rich contested waters.
The United States said it was "troubled" by tensions triggered by the maritime border dispute, calling for a "peaceful resolution".

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Vietnam says Russian-bought submarines for self-defence

SINGAPORE, June 5 - Vietnam said on Sunday six Kilo class diesel-powered submarines that it was buying from Russia would be used only for self-defence.
"We regard this as a normal activity for the People's Army of Vietnam," Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh told the Shangri-La Security Meeting in Singapore.


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Vietnamese hold anti-Chinese protest

Hundreds of Vietnamese have turned out to protest against Chinese naval operations in disputed waters of the South China Sea.

The demonstrations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City follow a confrontation last month between a Vietnamese oil and gas survey ship and Chinese patrol boats.

China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all claim territories in the South China Sea.



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