China holds live-fire exercises in Gulf of Tonkin after Vietnam territory claims

A Chinese military helicopter (Joeal Calupitan/AP)

Chinese authorities said they began live-fire exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin on Monday, only days after Vietnam announced a new line marking what it considers its territory in the body of water between the two countries.

China’s Maritime Safety Administration said the exercises would be focused on the Beibu Gulf area, closer to the Chinese side of the Gulf of Tonkin, and would run through to Thursday evening.