HANOI, Vietnam - A state-run Vietnamese newspaper has announced a live ammunition drill in an area of the South China Seas in an apparent response to China's demand that the Vietnamese halt all oil exploration in the area.
The announcement Friday in the country's state-run Dat Viet online newspapers said Vietnam would carry out a six-hour exercise Monday in an area off the country's central coast and warned boats and ships to stay out of the area.
The announcement came a day after China told Vietnam to stop illegally entering its waters and accused it of endangering Chinese fishermen's lives.
China and several of its southern neighbours have argued for years over who controls parts of the South China Sea, where they are eyeing potentially rich oil reserves.
