Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh has urged China to respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty and international law in response to reporters’ question relating to recent actions by China in Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh (Photo: VNA)

Viet Nam has sufficient legal foundation and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Binh said on March 13 when asked about Viet Nam’s reaction to reports that China organised an illegal tourism route to Hoang Sa archipelago and a Chinese coast guard vessel pursued a fishing ship coded QNg 95215 TS of Viet Nam in the area of Bach Quy (Passu Keah) Island in Hoang Sa.

“Those actions by China seriously infringed Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, violated international law, ran counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed in 2002 between ASEAN and China as well as the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Viet Nam and China signed in October 2011,” the spokesperson stressed.

He went on to say that Viet Nam adamantly objects (to those actions) and requests China to respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty and international law. China must immediately stop and not repeat those activities, in order to make constructive contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, Binh said.

(Source: VNA)