Vietnam on Monday urged China to cancel its military drills scheduled to take place on and around the Paracel Islands in the disputed South China Sea.

The Vietnamese foreign ministry, in a statement, raised objections to China's military exercise saying that it violates Hanoi's sovereignty.

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While asking Beijing to behave in a responsible manner, Hanoi demanded an immediate stop the naval drills.

"Vietnam strongly protests and demanded that China respects Vietnam's sovereignty, behave responsibly, immediately stop and do not take actions that threaten security, maritime safety in the East Sea or escalate tension in this region," Vietnam's foreign ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh said. "China's action runs counter to the common perception of senior leaders from both countries and defies international law."

China, on Sunday, announced that it would carry out military drills in the disputed South China Sea from July 5 to 11.  China's Maritime Safety Administration, in a statement on its official website, said the drills would be held in the east of Hainan Island including the Paracels.  

The military exercises come days after the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration declared that it would issue a ruling on July 12 on the South China Sea case.

The Philippines initiated the case at the international tribunal to challenge China's claim to contested territories. China, on the other hand, has said that does not recognize the jurisdiction of the tribunal and continues to maintain that it has ''indisputable sovereignty' over the disputed region.

Last week, Vietnam urged the Permanent Court of Arbitration to deliver a fair and objective ruling in the South China case filed by the Phillippines. 

TagsSouth China Sea, china, military drills, Vietnam, Hague