China asked to end violations in Vietnam’s territorial waters

Thứ Bảy, 20/07/2019, 11:23
Vietnam has expressly requested China to immediately end violations and withdraw all vessels from its territorial waters and respect its sovereign right and jurisdiction, for the sake of bilateral relations and for regional peace and stability.

china asked to end violations in vietnam’s territorial waters hinh 0
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang made the statement on July 19 in reply to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s stance on the comment by the China Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson on July 17 about the recent developments in the East Sea. 

Chinese geological survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 has recently violated Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the south of the East Sea which fully belongs to Vietnam in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which both Vietnam and China are members. 

Vietnam has contacted the Chinese side for many times through different channels and handed over diplomatic making an objection to the violations, Hang said, adding that Vietnamese  authorized forces at sea continue taking proper measures to exercise sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction in a peaceful manner and in line with international law to safeguard the country’s waters.

As confirmed by the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson on July 16, Vietnam’s unwavering stance is to resolutely struggle with any violation of its sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over sea waters defined in line with the 1982 UNCLOS and by peaceful measures, the official said. 

Maintaining order, peace and security in the East Sea is a common interest of countries in and outside the region as well as the international community. Therefore, Vietnam wants countries concerned and the international community to join hands in protecting and maintaining such common interest, the spokesperson noted.

VOV