Vietnam’s viewpoint on missing MH370 aircraft film contains inaccurate content
PSNews - During the regular press briefing held on April 6, Deputy spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang has clarified Vietnam’s viewpoint on the report that a documentary film about the search for the missing aircraft coded MH370 of Malaysia contains inaccurate content saying Vietnam did not cooperate to help with the search.
In reply to a reporter’s question, Hang said that as soon as Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went missing on March 8, 2014, Vietnamese relevant agencies promptly and proactively made response plans, actively shared information, and coordinated with the Malaysian side as well as other countries wishing to conduct search and rescue on a large scale, while assisting foreign reporters in covering the case.
Vietnam’s efforts at that time were recognised by the international community, alongside the domestic and foreign media, she continued
So far, authorities haven’t made any conclusions about the case. Therefore, the comments in the documentary, “MH370: The Plane that Disappeared”, made without an official conclusion from authorities are untrue, groundless, and do not truthfully reflect efforts by Vietnamese relevant agencies, causing discontent in the public in Vietnam, the official noted.
“We demand the film production company and maker accurately reflect the country’s contributions to the search and rescue operations for Flight MH370 of Malaysia and remove, amend the inappropriate contents,” the deputy spokeswoman stressed.
In reply to a reporter's question about Vietnamese comments on information that the Chinese research and survey ship, also known as the Haiyang Dizhi 4, had been operating in the country’s exclusive economic zone, Deputy Spokewoman said: "Vietnam affirmed its consistent view that activities taking place in the East Sea need to strictly abide by international law whilst respecting the sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Vietnamese territorial waters as established in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)".
According to Hang, the nation’s maritime law enforcement forces said that the ship had since left Vietnamese waters.
Regarding information that the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announced a list of 33 "regular survey" areas, including some lines in the East Sea covering the Spratly (Truong Sa) archipelago and Vietnamese waters, Hang stated, "As it has repeatedly affirmed, Vietnam has a full legal basis and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracels) and Truong Sa archipelagoes in accordance with International law, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Vietnam's waters which are established in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS.”
Hang added that the survey and scientific research within the Truong Sa archipelago and Vietnamese waters established in line with the UNCLOS 1982 without the country’s permission represents a violation of the nation’s sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago, Vietnamese sovereign rights, and its jurisdiction over its waters, meaning that it is therefore null and void.
Regarding information released on April 4 by the newspaper China Daily published an interview with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who was visiting the northern neighbor, the Malaysian PM called for dialogue to resolve disputes in the East Sea and said that this is not an "insurmountable" issue, Hang said when outlining Vietnam's view on the statement and the settlement of differences in the East Sea.
Accordingly, Hang stated that as a country steadfastly resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, Vietnam supports the fact that state actors can work together to resolve disagreements in the East Sea issue, on the basis of respecting the legitimate rights and interests of countries, as determined by the UNCLOS 1982.
This makes active and practical contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability of the legal order at sea, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the promotion of sustainable development of the seas and oceans, the official said.
With this policy, the country is always ready to work with relevant partners in order to negotiate and settle border and territorial issues left by history, thereby making positive contributions to the friendly relations between Vietnam and other countries, as well as peace and stability in the region and the world, added Hang.
