Vietnamese protesters wave national flags and chant during a protest against China in Victoria Park. Photo: EPA
Vietnam’s ambassador to the United Nations has accused Beijing of refusing to hold talks to resolve the two countries’ stand-off over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
Le Hoai Trung said Beijing insisted the waters off the disputed Paracel Islands where it set up an oil rig last month were indisputably part of China and there was no dispute to resolve.
There have since been a series of clashes between Chinese and Vietnamese vessels, and the move sparked anti-Chinese riots in Vietnam.
“We want to have negotiations, to have dialogue, or any other means of peaceful settlement of the dispute,” said Trung.
China’s stance was “provocative”, he said.