A long-standing dispute between the communist neighbours over sovereignty of two potentially oil-rich archipelagos has erupted again following recent sea confrontations that have sunk relations to their lowest point in years.

“The first live firing by the Vietnamese Navy began at 8:00am (0100 GMT)” and will last until 12:00 pm, said a naval officer based in the central city of Danang. He declined to be named…

Tensions have also risen this year between China and the Philippines, another claimant to the Spratlys, where Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also say they have a stake.

“No one wants a war but the possibility of some shots being fired in anger or of some ships running into other ships has increased,” said Ralph Cossa, president of Pacific Forum CSIS, the Asia-Pacific arm of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.