The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that China's growing and harvesting vegetables with "new technology" in Hoang Sa is a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty and international law.

"All activities in the Paracel and Spratly Islands without Vietnam's permission violate Vietnam's sovereignty and violate international law," said Doan Khac Viet, deputy spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement was made by Vietnamese after Global Times newspaper on May 19 reported that the Chinese navy used new technology to grow vegetables in Xisha, harvested 750 kg.

Chen Xiangmiao, who works at the China National Research Institute on the South China Sea, said that the harvest of vegetables in the Paracel Islands "was contrary to the argument of the international community, including the decision of the Court of Arbitration.

In the 2016 South China Sea ruling, Permanent Arbitration Court judges rejected the absurd "cow's tongue line" that Beijing had drawn to claim the claim to nearly the entire South China Sea.

Article 121 of UNCLOS stipulates the criteria for determining "an island" is a natural land surrounded by water and always above water at high tide, able to maintain conditions for people to live and live a life of economic life.

China has used force to occupy Vietnam's Paracel Islands since 1974 and illegally deployed garrison forces there.

"We have repeatedly stated that Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal grounds to assert sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, in accordance with international law," Viet said.