Vietnam protests against China's illegal activities in South China Sea

Thứ Sáu, 04/12/2020, 15:10

PSNews - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a regular press briefing on December 3. At the meeting, spokesperson for the ministry voiced Vietnam’s strong protest against China's illegal activities in the South China Sea.

Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang voiced Vietnam’s strong protest against Taiwan's (China) recent live-fire drills in the waters surrounding the Ba Binh island of Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) islands.

Such an exercise is a serious violation of Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over these islands, threatening peace, stability, safety, and maritime security, causing tensions and complicating the situation in the South China Sea (known as East Sea in Vietnam).

"Vietnam resolutely protests and demands that Taiwan (China) stop carrying out similar drills in the future", Hang underscored.

Spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Regarding the announcement of Chinese province of Hainan on December 1 to resume cruise routes to Vietnam’s Paracel Islands illegally occupied by China, following an 11-month hiatus due to COVID-19, spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang clearly said that, China should respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes and cancel tours of Vietnam’s Paracel islands.

“All activities conducted in these two archipelagoes without Vietnam’s permission seriously violate the country’s sovereignty, breach international law and are declared null and void,” stated Hang.

She asked China to stop such tours and other activities that may increase tensions, complicate the situation, and run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) known as the East Sea in Vietnam.

She added that these activities are not conducive to the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the South China Sea, as well as to concerned parties’ ongoing efforts in negotiating the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and bilateral relations.

“Vietnam once again holds it has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in accordance with international law”, stressed the spokesperson.

By Linh Bui