China reaffirms sovereignty over Xisha Islands: spokesman

BEIJING -- The Xisha Islands are China's inherent territory, over which there is no dispute, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Thursday.

Guo made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on a recent statement by a Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman claiming that Vietnam has sovereignty over the Xisha Islands and that all activities conducted by foreign countries in the islands without Vietnam's permission are "completely illegal and invalid."

"China's necessary construction activities on its own territory fall entirely within the scope of China's sovereignty, and the Vietnamese side has no right to make irresponsible remarks on this matter," Guo said.