Philippines' naming of reefs and sandbars around Việt Nam's island "invalid": Foreign ministry Việt Nam on Thursday contested Philippines’ recent naming of four sandbars and two coral reefs around Thị Tứ (Thitu) island in the South China Sea as “completely invalid.”

Việt Nam reaffirms sovereignty over Trường Sa

 As asserted many times previously, Việt Nam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence proving its sovereignty over Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelago, stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lê Thị Thu Hằng. 

Philippine’s Duterte pulls back from Spratlys flag vow

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday pulled back from a vow to place his country's flag on an island in the Spratlys chain claimed by China and other regional states.