China Accuses Vietnam In Escalating Sea Tensions

The DDG-171 Haikou Chinese navy destroyer

China has accused Vietnam of "gravely violating" its sovereignty and endangering the lives of Chinese sailors in an escalating territorial dispute that has added to broader tensions over the South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei issued the condemnation of Vietnam after Hanoi accused China of harassing a ship doing seismic surveys in the South China Sea, where the Asian neighbors have rival territorial claims.

China has quarreled with both Vietnam and the Philippines in recent weeks over their competing maritime claims.

Reuters