(Reuters photo)HANOI - Vietnam on Tuesday condemned China's construction and operation of a movie theatre on the Paracel islands, as tension between the neighbours rises over energy claims in the disputed South China Sea waterway. The cinema on Woody Island in the Paracels, which are also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam, is equipped with the most advanced projection equipment, China's state news agency Xinhua has said. China has urged Vietnam to stop the drilling while Vietnam has said countries should respect its right to drill in its waters. China claims most of the energy-rich South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Woody Island is the seat of what China calls Sansha city, its administrative centre for the South China Sea.

Source: Bangkok Post August 01, 2017 11:48 UTC