Vietnam’s sovereignty must be respected: Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 10 rejected China’s stance after Beijing blatantly said that its Xiang Yang Hong 10 survey vessel was operating legally in the East Sea.
Sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over the seas of a state established in line with 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the legitimate rights and interests of the littoral countries, including Vietnam, must be respected.
So said Pham Thu Hang, Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, on June 10 while commenting on a June 6 statement by a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry concerning the operation of the group of Chinese survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10.
As repeatedly affirmed, Vietnam has full legal ground and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa, she stressed, adding that the legal status of Truong Sa and its entities has been clearly defined in line with the UNCLOS 1982.
This is a manifestation of the responsible and construction spirit and a practical contribution by countries concerned to peace, stability, cooperaion and the rule of the law in the region, including the East Sea, she concuded.
Recently, as reported, Chinese survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10, along with a number of coast guard and fishing vessels, violated Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone established in accordance with regulations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).
Vietnam described the move as a violation of its sovereignty and immediately demanded that China withdraw the vessels from the Vietnamese waters. The Chinese vessels were said on June 5 to leave the Vietnamese waters, heading for China’s Hainan island.
