Vietnam has filed a protest against China over damage allegedly caused to a Vietnam seismic survey ship by Chinese petrol vessels. Vietnamese officials said one of the three Chinese patrol vessels intentionally cut a submerged cable towed by a ship operated by the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group. The survey ship was conducting seismic tests last week in disputed waters in the South China Sea. Vietnam's Foreign Affairs Ministry accused Beijing of violating Vietnam's sovereignty right to its continental shelf. However, China responded saying that it opposes Vietnam's exploration for oil and gas in what Beijing called China's jurisdictional area.