Viet Nam demands that China respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at the Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference on 3 December.

A Vietnamese naval soldier on Da Lat Island, Truong Sa archipelago (Photo: VNA)

All activities without Viet Nam’s permission at the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos violate Viet Nam’s sovereignty and international law, thus having no legal validity, Hang said in reply to a reporter’s question regarding China’s recent moves in the East Sea. 

The reporter mentioned China’s latest moves in the East Sea, including Hainan province’s announcement to resume travel tours to Hoang Sa, and the Chinese navy receiving a hospital ship at the wharf on Da Chu Thap (Fiery Cross Reef) in Truong Sa archipelago.

Viet Nam urges China to cancel and end the organization of tours to Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa as well as actions that can intensify tension and complicate the situation, run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and are unfavourable for the maintenance of a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the East Sea, countries’ efforts in negotiating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and the ties between the two countries, Hang said.

She reiterated that Viet Nam has full legal grounds and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa in accordance with international law.

Asked to comment on Taiwan (China)’s live-fire drills on 24 November in the waters around Ba Binh (internationally known as Itu Aba) Island in the Truong Sa archipelago of Viet Nam, the spokeswoman made clear that Taiwan’s move had seriously violated Viet Nam’s territorial sovereignty over the archipelago, threatened peace, stability, and maritime safety and security, caused tension and further complicated the situation in the East Sea. 

“Viet Nam resolutely opposes to, and demands that Taiwan (China) neither hold the illegal drills nor repeat the violation in the future,” Hang stressed.

Source: VNA