Vietnamese Protest Chinese Moves Over Disputed Islands

December 9, 2007 12:02 p.m. EST

Hanoi, Vietnam (AHN) - University students gathered near the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi on Sunday to protest China's claim on two disputed islands in the South China Sea.

They protested China's recent ratification of a plan to create a symbolic administrative region called Sansha to manage three archipelagos, including the Paracels and the Spratlys.

Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China had "indisputable sovereignty" over the islands, which has left many in Viet Nam saying something needs to be done to show Viet Nam's sovereignty over the islands.

For years, Vietnam and China have been at odds over ownership of the Spratly and Paracel islands. Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also claim sovereignty over all or some of the Spratlys.

The largely uninhabited islands, believed to have large oil and natural gas reserves, straddle busy sea lanes and rich fishing grounds.

Demonstrations are extremely rare in Vietnam, and the demonstration was dispersed after an hour.