FM spokesperson asks China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty in East Sea

• FM spokesperson affirms Vietnam’s efforts against coronavirus outbreak
• US officials strongly condemn China’s illegal activities in East Sea
• Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence demonstrating its national sovereignty over the East Sea

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

The statement was made on March 26 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' regular press conference in Hanoi, while answering reporters’ queries regarding Vietnam’s response to Chinese media’s information about China’s launch of two research stations on Fiery Cross and Subi Reefs of Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. 

"Vietnam has repeatedly stated it has sufficient historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in line with international law. As a result of this legal proof, all activities that take place there must be subject to permission being granted by Vietnam,", Hang added.

Therefore, all activities on those islands must have Vietnam’s permission, the spokesperson stressed. 

Regarding Taiwan (China)’s live-fire drill around Ba Binh (Itu Aba) island in Truong Sa, Hang described the exercise as an action that has seriously violated Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over the archipelago, threatened peace, stability, safety and security of navigation, caused tensions and complicated the situation in the East Sea.

Vietnam resolutely protests and asks Taiwan not to carry out similar illegal exercises in the future, said the spokesperson.