Tensions Between China And Vietnam Escalate

China is warning Vietnam to withdraw its ships from disputed waters, after vessels from the two sides collided in a tense confrontation.

Vietnam has accused China of massing 80 vessels, including navy ships, to back an operation to drill for oil off the disputed Paracel Islands. It released video footage to back its claim that Chinese ships had rammed Vietnamese vessels.

A foreign ministry official in Beijing said the Vietnamese patrol ships had collided deliberately.

Giang Nguyen, an editor with the BBC's Vietnamese Service in London, joins Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson with details.

Note: This interview can be heard in the Here & Now podcast or with the WBUR app.