Vietnam lodges formal complaint to UN against China

Vietnam has lodged a formal complaint to the UN over China's placement of a surface to air missile battery on a disputed island in the South China Sea. The country's foreign ministry said Friday that these are serious infringements of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracels, threatening peace and stability in the



region as well as security, safety and freedom of navigation and flight. The statement said diplomatic notes had been issued to China's embassy in Hanoi and to Ban Ki-moon, the UN Chief, to condemn China's activities. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including small islands such as the Paracels.