China conducts live-fire exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin.

A Chinese coast guard unit conducted live-fire exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin today amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

The Chinese navy conducted illegal live-fire exercises in the waters between Hainan Island and Vietnam's Paracel Islands on July 8. Photo: AP.

The China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) said today that the live-fire exercise area is located between Hainan Island and the waters north of Vietnam, and ships are prohibited from entering the area from August 22 to 24, according to AP.

The Chinese navy and air force have conducted numerous exercises within the "nine-dash line" area that China unilaterally claimed since the Arbitration Tribunal issued its ruling rejecting Beijing's claim.

Beijing declared it would not accept the ruling and brazenly stated it would continue building runways, ports, and other infrastructure on the structures it illegally occupies.

Yesterday, China announced it had conducted naval exercises in the East China Sea involving its newest generation destroyers. Beijing disputes sovereignty over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in this sea with Tokyo.

China also plans joint military exercises with Russia in the South China Sea after repeatedly criticizing US naval activities as "harmful to peace and stability."area.

Vietnam asserts its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. Any activities by other countries in these two archipelagos without Vietnam's consent are illegal and invalid.

According to VNE