Chinese state councilor meets Vietnamese DM in Myanmar  

常万全会见越南国防部长：不要一错再错酿成大错

常万全说，一段时间以来，越方对中方在西沙群岛海域正常、合法的钻探作业进行干扰破坏，特别是近期越南国内发生主要针对中国企业和公民的打砸抢烧严重暴力事件，我们对此坚决反对并强烈谴责。在西沙海域正当作业是我们的权利，不是谁想挡就能挡得住的。越方应尊重历史，正视现实，从中越友好大局出发，不要一错再错、酿成大错。 [查看全文]

Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan, who is currently in Nay Pyi Taw to attend the ASEAN-China Defense Ministers' Meeting, met with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh on Monday.

Vietnam has recently disrupted China's normal and legitimate oil drilling in Chinese territorial waters near the Xisha Islands, Chang said, and serious violence including vandalism, looting and arson targeting Chinese enterprises and nationals has occurred in Vietnam.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns these acts, he said.

Normal drilling operations in waters of China's Xisha Islands are China's rights, and nobody can block such activities, Chang said.

The Vietnamese side should respect the history, face up to reality and look at the bigger picture of China-Vietnam friendship instead of making repeated mistakes, he said.

For his part, Phung Quang Thanh said the Vietnamese party, government and armed forces highly value the friendship with China.

Vietnam's armed forces would not take any action that complicates the situation and are willing to continue to communicate with China over related issues, he said.