Vietnam tells Taiwan to desist from live-fire military exercises near Spratlys

"It is a serious violation of Vietnam's territorial sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, threatens peace, stability, safety, and maritime security, and escalates tensions and complicates the situation in the South China Sea," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang told the media Saturday.

Taiwan announced there would be live-fire drills in Itu Aba, known as Ba Binh in Vietnam, on June 28 and 29, and said vessels should stay away from the area.

Hang said Vietnam's stance for years has been that it opposes Taiwan's live-fire exercises in the sea around Ba Ninh and Taiwan should stop its illegal actions.

Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands in accordance with international law, she pointed out.