China on Wednesday rejected claims its authorities rammed and looted Vietnamese fishing vessels in the disputed South China Sea and beat its crew, describing the allegations as groundless and being "far from truth."

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry made the allegations late Tuesday and demanded compensation for the unlawful search and seizure of three Vietnamese fishing boats on three separate incidents last month.

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On Wednesday, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh reiterated Hanoi's stance on last month's altercation but also claimed that Chinese authorities beat the fishermen.

These acts are clear violations of Vietnam's sovereignty in the East Sea (also known as South China Sea) and international law, Le said, adding that the country's grievances have been formally filed with the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi.

Vietnam has called for the matter to be investigated and demanded compensation for its fishermen. It also urged China to implement guidelines to avoid similar clashes from occurring.

Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded to the accusations and defended its actions.

Hua said a Vietnamese boat encroached on Chinese waters on August 15 and threw explosives into the sea to fish. In response, Chinese authorities intercepted the vessel, boarded it and confiscated the explosives.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry said the boat was fishing in waters near the Chinese-controlled Paracel Islands, also known as Xisha Islands in Chinese, the Associated Press detailed. Vietnam also lays claim to the disputed island.

Ties between the two countries have been strained, most notably after China deployed oil rigs to the islands in May which sparked a deadly riot in Vietnam. The chaos left three Chinese citizens dead and hundreds of China-affiliated factories damaged.

China pulled the rigs off the island in July but tensions still remain high and clashes frequent.

Last week, Hanoi voiced its protest against Beijing's move to open a new cruise route from Hainan to Paracel.

TagsParacel Islands, Xisha islands, Vietnam, disputed islands, China-Vietnam relations