Hanoi resolutely objects to Taiwan’s live-fire exercises in the waters around Ba Binh (Itu Aba) Island, part of Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea, and demands that Taiwan not repeat these actions in the future, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Pham Thu Hang, made the objection in response to the media’s questions about Vietnam’s reactions to the live-fire drills conducted by Taiwan. 

“The organization of such drills is a serious infringement upon Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over Truong Sa,” the spokeswoman told reporters in Hanoi.

She condemned this action as it poses a threat to peace, stability, maritime safety and security, causes tension and further complicates the situation in the East Vietnam Sea.

Vietnam firmly opposes and demands that Taiwan not repeat similar violations in the future, Hang stressed.

Ba Binh is the largest natural island in Truong Sa, which belongs to Vietnam but has been illegally occupied by Taiwan since 1956.

Vietnam has repeatedly proclaimed that it has enough historical evidence and legal foundation to prove its sovereignty over the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes in the East Vietnam Sea in accordance with international law, the spokesperson stated.

According to unverified information published in Taipei Times, Taiwan has deployed domestically-made Kestrel anti-armor missiles on Itu Aba to “strengthen garrison defenses and anti-landing capabilities.”

Taiwan’s Coast Guard forces have been stationed on the island in replacement of its Marines units, according to Taiwanese media.

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