China reaffirms sovereignty over Xisha Qundao: spokesperson

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Xisha Qundao is China's inherent territory, over which there is no dispute, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson 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 spokesperson claiming that Vietnam has sovereignty over Xisha Qundao 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.