China rejects Vietnam's protest over Paracel construction, escalating South China Sea dispute

China has rejected Vietnam's formal protest against reclamation and construction at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, asserting its sovereignty and dismissing Vietnam's claims as unwarranted. This marks a continuation of the long-standing territorial dispute, but the explicit rejection of Vietnam's protest signals a hardening of China's position. The incident raises tensions in the South China Sea, with implications for regional stability and maritime law.