The Vietnamese government on Friday submitted a formal complaint to the United Nations (UN) against China following reports that Beijing has deployed surface-to-air-missile (SAM) batteries to the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. 

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China has controlled the islands since 1974, but its authority over the territory is disputed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

The Vietnamese government claims that China's deployment of missiles on Woody Island -- in the eastern Paracels -- is a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty.  Vietnam has called on the UN to condemn the move, according to a statement Hanoi sent to Reuters.

"These are serious infringements of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracels, threatening peace and stability in the region as well as security, safety and freedom of navigation and flight," Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said in a statement.

The call comes a day after Vietnam drew criticism for its failure to respond quickly to reports of China's deployment of missiles on the island. 

"China Threat Theory"

Beijing has said that it has had sea and air defense placements on the Paracel Islands for years. But recent reports of their existence have escalated tensions in the region.

This has led China's state-run news portal, the Global Times, to conclude that American ulterior motives are behind the extensive media coverage of the reported missile batteries on the islands.

"The hyping by certain Western media is a pure repeat of the 'China threat' theory," said the influential news agency, referring to concerns over China's growing economic and military power.

In a statement issued recently to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the Chinese defense ministry said China has the right to install military infrastructure on its territory as these are necessary for the protection of national security and sovereignty.

"Chinese air defense systems have been on these islands for many years already," said the statement.

"Ulterior Purposes"

Vietnam's formal complaint against China comes after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi defended China's refusal to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) over a case filed by the Philippine government against the legality of Beijing's claims in the South China Sea.

Citing the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Wang said on Wednesday that China made a public statement of optional exception in 2006, rejecting PCA arbitration on issues concerning territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The option is stipulated in the UNCLOS, and over 30 countries throughout the world have made similar optional exception declarations in the past, Wang added.

Wang likewise pointed out that -- while generally accepted international protocol requires both parties in a dispute to agree to third party mediation -- the Philippines had initiated PCA arbitration unilaterally.

"The Philippines initiation of the South China Sea arbitration with Punic faith makes us doubt whether there are complex international backgrounds and even ulterior political purposes behind the country's stubborn acts," Wang said.

Beijing is trying to manage separate maritime and territorial disputes with the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan -- each of which has overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

TagsChina-Vietnam relations, Paracel Islands, Territorial disputes in the South China Sea, United Nations (UN)