Vietnam requires China to withdraw fishing boats from Truong Sa archipelago
PSNews - Deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang on November chaired a regular briefing on November 4. At the briefing, she commented on satellite image information showing that the Chinese fleet was present again around Sinh Ton island cluster in the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam, even up to 150 vehicles at times.
“As repeatedly affirmed, Vietnam has full legal foundations and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in accordance with international law. The nation is entitled to enjoy its sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over its territorial waters defined in conformity with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982),” Hang said.
According to the deputy spokesperson, Vietnam resolutely and persistently takes measures in accordance with international law to protect those legal and legitimate rights.
She also added: "Chinese ships operating within the territorial waters of Sinh Ton island cluster in the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam has seriously violated the nation's sovereignty and the provisions of the UNCLOS 1982, while running counter to the spirit of the Declaration of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC)".
Vietnam calls on China to implement the 1982 UNCLOS with goodwill and seriously observe the DOC, creating a favourable environment to reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, and contributing to maintaining peace, security, stability and legal order in regional waters.
