Vietnam protests China's activities in South China Sea

Staff hang up copies of maps dating from the Qing Dynasty purporting to back up China's claims to vast parts of the South China Sea, in Hong Kong Thursday, July. 14, 2016. An international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines this week saying that China had no basis for expanses claims in the sea. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) (The Associated Press)

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Sam Kwok, left, and Marcopolo Tam, members of a pro-China business group in Hong Kong, hold open a map in a book as they stand in front of two copies of larger maps dating from the Qing Dynasty purporting to back up China's claims to vast parts of the South China Sea, in Hong Kong, Thursday, July. 14, 2016. An international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines this week saying that China had no basis for expanses claims in the sea. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) (The Associated Press)

Pro-Beijing protesters shout slogans against the United States supporting an international court ruling of the South China Sea outside the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong, Thursday, July 14, 2016. China warned other countries Wednesday against threatening its security in the South China Sea after an international tribunal handed the Philippines a victory by saying Beijing had no legal basis for its expansive claims there. A sign, left, reads "Strongly protest against U.S. intervention in South China Sea Affairs." (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) (The Associated Press)

HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam has protested China's recent activities in the disputed South China Sea saying they seriously violate Vietnamese sovereignty.

Chinese state media reported that two Chinese civilian aircraft on Wednesday landed successfully on two newly built airstrips on Mischief and Subi reefs and that China has completed four light houses and is launching the fifth on reefs in the region.

Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh told reporters that those actions have seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty and are unlawful.

He says Vietnam demanded that China stop acts that violate its sovereignty and refrain from taking actions that complicate the situation in the South China Sea.

A U.N. arbitration tribunal this week ruled that China's vast territorial claims are violating international maritime law, but Beijing says it doesn't recognize the decision.