Vietnam protests as China’s Paracels build-up escalates at Antelope Reef

Hanoi has protested to Beijing over Chinese land-reclamation activities in the disputed Paracel Islands, following reports of accelerated dredging and landfill operations at Antelope Reef in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea.“Vietnam resolutely opposes such activities, makes representations and affirms its position on this matter,” Vietnamese foreign ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said on Saturday.She said Hanoi had “ample historical evidence and legal grounds” to assert sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, including Antelope Reef, in accordance with international law.She added that any foreign activities in the waters without Vietnam’s permission were “completely illegal and invalid”.It was unclear when the protest was lodged, but last week Chinese and Vietnamese foreign, security and defence ministers agreed in Hanoi to “properly” address maritime disputes.The foreign ministry in Beijing has been contacted for comment.