Vietnam's foreign ministry said foreign activities on the Xisha Islands,
including Lingyang Reef and Yagong Island, are illegal without Vietnamese
permission, lodged a stern protest and demanded an immediate halt. At a regular
briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the Xisha (Paracel)
Islands are China's inherent territory and there is no dispute, and that China
carrying out necessary construction on its own territory is a sovereign matter
Vietnam has no right to contest.
