Vietnam demands Taiwan to cancel illegal live fire drills near Spratlys

"Taiwan organizing live fire drills at sea regions around Itu Aba, part of Vietnam’s Spratly Islands, is a serious violation on Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over the islands, as well as threatening the peace, stability, safety and maritime security, and complicating the situation at the East Sea," deputy spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said in a press release.

Vietnam calls the South China Sea the East Sea.

"Vietnam vehemently opposes to this, and requests that Taiwan cancels the aforementioned illegal acts and does not repeat similar violations."

Hang’s response came upon reporters’ inquiries about Vietnam’s reaction of Taiwan’s announcement of conducting live fire drills in sea regions around Itu Aba.

The Itu Aba is the island with the largest natural area within Vietnam’s Spratly Islands. Taiwan illegally occupies the island and has deployed military forces at the location.

Vietnam has affirmed that it has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands in accordance with international law.