Vietnam protests Taiwan's recent military exercise using real bullets in the sea area to the west of Truong Sa (Spratlys) archipelago, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung said on February 14.

In response to Vietnam News Agency correspondent's question on the report that Taiwan conducted military manoeuvre the on water area western to Ba Dinh island in the Truong Sa archipelago from February 12-13, the spokesman said:

"Vietnam has full historical evidences to affirm the country's sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracels) and Truong Sa (Spratlys) archipelagos. All activities in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos which were not approved by Vietnam are violations of Vietnam's sovereignty in these areas.

"Vietnam required Taiwan not to perform similar activities in its Truong Sa archipelago."