HANOI—Vietnam strongly protested China’s launch of weather stations in the disputed Spratly group of islands, saying on Thursday they seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty and complicate the situation in the South China Sea.

China last week announced it started operations of the stations on three islands to offer weather forecasts to fishermen in the South China Sea region and neighboring countries, and passing ships.

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Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang told reporters at a regular briefing on Thursday that Vietnam had legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Spratlys and Paracels, and asked China to stop the action.

“The fact that China started use of meteorological observation stations on the illegally built structures in the Spratlys has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the islands,” she said.

“Vietnam persistently opposes this act and asks China to immediately stop the above-said actions,” Hang said.

She said China should abide by the principles reached between the two countries guiding the settlement of the maritime issues and the Declaration of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea “without complicating the situation, affecting peace, security and stability” in the South China Sea.

Vietnam and China, along with five other nations, claim all or parts of the Spratlys. Tensions have flared after China turned seven disputed reefs into islands, which it later equipped with missile defense systems.

Vietnam has become the most vocal against China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, which has triggered concerns and protests in the region as well as the United States. —AP

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