Vietnam has urged China to stop sending ships on ‘patriotic cruises’ to disputed islands in the South China Sea.
The government demands the end of cruises which ‘violate Vietnam’s sovereignty,’ foreign ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh told Reuters.
"Vietnam strongly opposes this and demands that China respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and international law and immediately stop and not repeat those activities."
Earlier this month a Chinese cruise ship carrying more than 300 passengers visited the Paracel Islands.
In response China reiterated its claim to the Paracel Islands and about 90% of South China Sea.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan all have claims over parts of the South China Sea which is a major sea cargo route responsible for about $5 trillion of trade each year.
The first cruises from China to the Paracel islands launched in 2013 and have ramped up as hostilities over sovereignty intensify.
Xiao Jie, party secretary of Sansha City, which is based on the largest Paracel Island, said the islands will continue developing tourism despite the controversy.
"We are going to open more islands to tourists and build more facilities," he said.
