Viet Nam has made contact with China to oppose its repeated serious violation and demand the country to withdraw its survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 and escort ships out of Vietnam’s territorial waters, the Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said on 16 August.

The Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)

Hang made the statement while answering reporters’ queries regarding the return of survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 to Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The spokeswoman cited information from competent agencies as saying that the Chinese vessel group and a number of escort ships came back to Viet Nam’s territorial waters on 13 August.

"The waters totally belong to Viet Nam’s sovereign right and jurisdiction as defined in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," Hang stressed.

Viet Nam has asked China to respect Viet Nam’s sovereign right, jurisdiction and other legal and legitimate rights and interests in line with the 1982 UNCLOS and international law, she said.

Vietnamese authorised forces have been continuing to implement measures to exercise Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction in accordance with Vietnamese and international law, Hang added.

Viet Nam has attached great importance to peace, security and respect for law in the East Sea, and has goodwill to settle disputes through peaceful measures.

Viet Nam also treasures and wants to promote friendly ties with China for the sake of the two countries and their people, and for peace, stability and security in the region and the world at large, and at the same time, it is resolved and consistent to protect its legal and legitimate rights and interests, Hang stressed. 

Viet Nam calls on related countries and the international community to actively contribute to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea, the region and the world as well, she added.

(Source: VNA)