China expresses on Monday strong dissatisfaction with the first
tourist activities to the Nansha islands organized by Vietnam.
"Vietnam made this move disregarding China's repeated
representations and firm opposition," said Foreign Ministry
spokesman Kong Quan in response to a question on Vietnam's tourist
activities to Nansha Monday.
Kong said Vietnam's tourist activities infringe on China's
territorial sovereignty, violate the consensus reached between
China and Vietnam, and break the commitments set forth in the
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea
between China and the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations
(ASEAN).
The move leads to a complication of the situation in the South
China Sea and will do no good to resolving disputes, Kong said.
"We again urge the Vietnamese side to honor its commitments and
immediately stop taking any action that may further complicate the
situation so as to keep peace and stability in the South China
Sea," said Kong.
(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2004)