Vietnam on August 27 protested against the Philippines over its recent naming of four sandbanks and two reefs near Thi Tu Island in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, now claimed and occupied illegally by the Philippines, in Bien Dong Sea (internationally called South China Sea).

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on June 9 annouced the Philippines plans to spend 1.3 billion pesos (USD 26 million) to build more structures on Thitu Island in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spartly) Islands, now claimed and occupied illegally by the Philippines, Bloomberg reported.