Vietnam and China ships 'collide in South China Sea'
Vietnamese naval ships and Chinese vessels have collided in the South China Sea, the BBC reported, citing Vietnamese officials.
The incident happened as the Vietnamese navy was trying to prevent the Chinese from setting up an oil rig in an area claimed by both nations.
No shots were fired, reports say. But Vietnamese officials said that water cannons were used on their ships.
The incident is the most serious between the countries at sea in years, with dozens of boats now in the area.
Vietnamese officials said on Wednesday that the Chinese ships intentionally rammed their vessels.
Several sailors were injured, AP quoted one official as saying.
Vietnamese maritime police official Ngo Ngoc Thu told media in Hanoi on Wednesday that Chinese boats had collided with Vietnamese vessels three times since 3 May.
Chinese officials said during a regular briefing on Wednesday that the oil rig was within China's territorial waters.
"The disruptive activities by the Vietnamese side are in violation of China's sovereign rights," Hua Chunying said.