China fumes as Vietnam sends tourists to Spratlys

[dArKeR]

AFP , HANOI
Monday, Apr 19, 2004,Page 5

A diplomatic storm is expected this week when Vietnam sends a boatload of tourists to its military outposts in the disputed Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea.

Despite warnings from Beijing, its powerful northern neighbor, about violating China's territorial sovereignty, Hanoi has vowed to press ahead with the inaugural trip which it has billed as a trial run.

Today, around 100 people carefully selected for their political credentials will leave the southern business capital of Ho Chi Minh City for the seven-day round trip.

Duong Xuan Hoi, deputy director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said the boat tour, which is being conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence, had been in the pipeline since 1998.

But it was only officially announced last month, prompting an angry reaction from China and a cautious one from the Philippines.

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