China’s organisation of consecutive military exercises in the waters to the north-northeast of Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago has violated Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on August 26.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)

Responding to reporters’ query, the spokesperson made it clear that China’s act runs counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and complicates the situation, which is unfavourable for the current negotiations between China and the ASEAN on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) and the maintenance of a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the East Sea.

“Viet Nam demands that China respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, stop and not repeat such violations,” Hang said.

Source: VNA