Viet Nam has demanded China to immediately stop violations, withdraw all vessels from Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and not have actions to increase tensions, complicate the situation, and threaten peace, stability and security in the East Sea and the region, the Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has said.

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

Mrs Hang made the statement at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on August 22 while answering reporters’ queries about Viet Nam’s reaction since China’s survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 returned to Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone.

Over the past days, China’s survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 returned and continued their serious infringements of Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf determined by regulations of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), she said.

“Viet Nam’s competent forces at sea have continued to enforce and protect Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign right, and jurisdiction in accordance with international law and the country’s law,” the Spokeswoman said.

With the determination to safeguard the country’s legitimate rights and interests and contribute to regional and international peace, stability and security, Viet Nam is always willing to settle disputes via peaceful measures in line with international law, she affirmed.

Viet Nam called on all relevant countries and the international community to make active and practical contributions to the maintenance of order, peace, and security in the region, as well as security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, while respecting the principle of obey the law in the East Sea in conformity with international law, especially the UNCLOS, Hang added.

While answering reporters’ queries about the first maritime exercise between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the US in the Gulf of Thailand, Hang said the event will take place from September 2-6 under an agreement signed between ASEAN and US defence ministers in 2018.

As a member of the ASEAN, Viet Nam will take part in this manoeuvres, she confirmed.

(Source: VNA)