Any unilateral actions by foreign countries to change the status quo on Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago are a serious violation of Viet Nam’s sovereignty, affirmed Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh.

These actions go against the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and increase tension in the East Sea and the region, Binh told reporters at a regular press briefing in Ha Noi on September 11.

He was responding to reporters’ question concerning Viet Nam’s reaction to China’s recent land reclamation on Gac Ma or Johnson South Reef of the Spratly Islands

“Viet Nam has sufficient historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago,” he said.

Earlier on September 9, BBC ran an article by Rupert Wingfield Hayes featuring the operation of China’s island factory on Johnson South Reef of Viet Nam.

Hayes reported “China has been doing massive land reclamation work here since January 2014. Millions of tonnes of rock and sand have been dredged up from the sea floor and pumped into the reef to form a new island.

(Source: VOV)