Vietnam resolutely opposes actions infringing upon sovereignty over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa
PSNews - Vietnam resolutely opposes actions that infringe on the country’s sovereignty and related rights over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly), stated Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on May 18.
Deputy Spokeperson Pham Thu Hang on May 18 chaired the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commenting on the news that China recently opened a hot pot restaurant on Woody island of the Paracel archipelago, and the Philippines placed navigational buoys within a waters of the East Sea
Accordingly, Hang affirmed that Vietnam has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos in accordance with international law.
With regard to China’s geological exploration vessel operating in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Hang said Vietnam has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the waters in the East Sea as described in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
For these cases, she said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese authorities have been implementing measures in accordance with international law and Vietnamese law to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam.
Vietnam requests that relevant parties respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, international law and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and make positive contributions to maintaining stability in the East Sea, as well as creating a favourable environment for the negotiation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), Hang concluded.
