BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday refuted Vietnam's protest that Chinese Navy's exercise in Xisha Islands has infringed upon its sovereignty as "groundless".

    "The protest by Vietnam is groundless," Qin Gang told a press briefing. "Chinese Navy's routine exercise in Xisha Islands has been its normal activity within China's territorial waters."

    China has indisputable sovereignty over Xisha Islands and adjacent water areas, and "no dispute exists between China and Vietnam" in this regard, he said.