Vietnam opposes China's redeployment of missiles in Phu Lam island

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Responding to a foreign media report on June 8 that satellite image by Israeli intelligence shows China’s deployment of missiles in Phu Lam (Woody Island) which belongs to Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, spokeperson Le Thi Thu Hang said: "Vietnam has full legal foundation and historical evidence of its sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes, which are in line with international law. All activities conducted in the two archipelagoes without Vietnam’s permission are illegal and null". 

“China’s redeployment of missiles in Phu Lam island of Hoang Sa archipelago grossly violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa, escalates tensions, and threatens regional peace and stability and safety of navigation and overflights in the East Sea. Vietnam demands that China immediately end these wrongful acts and withdraw its military equipment which was illegally deployed in Hoang Sa archipelago of Vietnam", Hang underscore. 

Regarding the works to protect rights of two Vietnamese fishermen in the Republic of Korea, Hang confirmed that police of Seogwipo City reported that they are investigating the abuse case pertaining to two Vietnamese men, Le Hong Son (22, from Quang Nam) and Nguyen Chi Thang (22, from Ha Tinh) working on the fishing ship 2010 Naekho that operated near Seogwipo City on Jeju Island.

Currently, the Embassy of Vietnam in the Republic of Korea is working with local authorities to protect the legitimate rights and interest of Son and Thang. "The two men are staying at the support centre for foreign workers in Jeju", she added. 

Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the Embassy of Vietnam in the RoK to keep a close watch on the case and on June 8, representatives from the embassy paid a visit to the two workers in Jeju and they were in stable condition.