Vietnam, China vow restraint in S. China Sea

— China and Vietnam vowed Sunday to keep the peace in the South China Sea, the resource-rich waterway that has long been a source of tension between Hanoi and its powerhouse communist neighbor.

China claims most of the disputed sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves and is highly strategic for trade and defense.

Beijing has built up artificial islands capable of hosting military installations in recent years, stoking ire from claimants like Vietnam, which has emerged as China’s most vocal opponent in the waterway.

Foreign ministers from China and Vietnam pledged Sunday to address disputes peacefully. “Both sides should abide by the basic governing principles on resolving maritime issues. Both sides should not apply unilateral measures that would complicate the situation,” China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Hanoi during an official visit to Vietnam.