China slams Vietnam after latest maritime confrontation

A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry has urged Vietnam to stop violating Chinese companies' regular operations and avoid maritime accidents after a Vietnamese fishing boat forcefully intruded into the area of a Chinese company's oil rig and capsized.

Qin Gang told the ministry's daily press briefing on Tuesday that the Vietnamese fishing boat capsized after harassing and colliding with a Chinese fishing boat in the waters near China's Xisha Islands on Monday afternoon. Crew aboard the boat were saved, he said.

[Read more: Vietnamese boat capsized in S China sea, crew saved]

The Vietnamese side deliberately obstructed regular operations of a Chinese company despite the Chinese side's warnings and brought risk to the waters, Qin added.

When asked if China will take counter-measures, the spokesman said that it depends on the follow-up behavior of the Vietnamese side.

He pointed out that it is infructuous for Vietnam to conduct disruptive actions and that Vietnam had jeopardized its own interests.

Qin said China has indisputable sovereignty over the Xisha Islands and hopes Vietnam will not make unreasonable trouble over the issue.

When asked to comment on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Tuesday remarks that China's drilling near the Xisha Islands had created tension with Vietnam, Qin said the islands are China's inherent territory and the drilling was done in waters that are indisputably Chinese. He added that China will not accept unreasonable remarks or any interference from other countries.

China urges Japan to respect historical facts about China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over the Xisha Islands after WWII and stop making irresponsible remarks, according to Qin.

In regard to Japanese leaders' opinions on Chinese military buildup, he said the strengthening aims at safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and it is a positive force for the world's peace, stability and development.