Australia and Vietnam have expressed serious concern over tensions in the disputed South China Sea, where Hanoi says China's gas survey ship has infringed on its territory and has disrupted Vietnam's exploration activities.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison met in Hanoi with his counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc and both leaders called for respect of international law and freedom of navigation.
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Australia and Vietnam have expressed serious concern over tensions in the disputed South China Sea, where Hanoi says China's gas survey ship has infringed on its territory and has disrupted Vietnam's exploration activities.
Beijing has deployed a survey vessel with armed escorts into waters off Vietnam, ignoring Hanoi's calls to leave the area.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, center right, attend a signing ceremony at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, center right, witness a signing ceremony at the Government Office in Hanoi, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on an official visit to Vietnam from Aug. 22-24, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh, Pool)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc walk to a press briefing at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during a press briefing at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on an official visit to Vietnam from Aug. 22-24, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh, Pool)
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, accompanied by his wife Tran Nguyet Thu, third from right, arrives for a welcome ceremony for visiting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
An honor guard prepares for a welcome ceremony for visiting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center, talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, second from left, while walking at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, right, talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, center, while walking at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, second from left, with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, right, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc while walking at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center, with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc pose for a photo during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, second from left, and his wife Jenny Morrison, left, pose with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his wife Tran Thi Nguyet Thu for a photo during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc pose for a photo during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Earlier the United States said it was deeply concerned that China is continuing to interfere with Vietnam's longstanding oil and gas activities in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone. China claims the South China Sea virtually in its entirety.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks at a press briefing at the Government Office in Hanoi, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on an official visit to Vietnam from Aug. 22-24, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh, Pool)
Beijing has deployed a survey vessel with armed escorts into waters off Vietnam, ignoring Hanoi's calls to leave the area.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks during a press briefing at the Government Office in Hanoi, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh, Pool)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, center right, attend a signing ceremony at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, center right, witness a signing ceremony at the Government Office in Hanoi, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on an official visit to Vietnam from Aug. 22-24, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh, Pool)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc walk to a press briefing at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during a press briefing at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on an official visit to Vietnam from Aug. 22-24, 2019. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh, Pool)
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, accompanied by his wife Tran Nguyet Thu, third from right, arrives for a welcome ceremony for visiting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
An honor guard prepares for a welcome ceremony for visiting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center, talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, second from left, while walking at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, right, talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, center, while walking at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, second from left, with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, right, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc while walking at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center, with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc pose for a photo during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, second from left, and his wife Jenny Morrison, left, pose with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his wife Tran Thi Nguyet Thu for a photo during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc pose for a photo during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Morrison is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP PhotoDuc Thanh)