Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam requests China to respect its sovereignty and take noactions that escalate tensions and complicate the situation, affecting peaceand stability in the East Sea and the region, as well as efforts of countriesin negotiations of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), spokeswoman of theVietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said.
Hangmade the remarks at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on March26, while answering reporters’ queries regarding Vietnam’s response to Chinesemedia’s information about China’s launch of two research stations on FieryCross and Subi Reefs of Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.
Shereiterated that Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidencetestifying its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Saarchipelagos in line with international law.
Therefore,all activities on those islands must have Vietnam’s permission, thespokesperson stressed.
RegardingTaiwan (China)’s live-fire drill around Ba Binh (Itu Aba) island in Truong Sa,Hang described the exercise as an action that has seriously violated Vietnam’sterritorial sovereignty over the archipelago, threatened peace, stability,safety and security of navigation, caused tensions and complicated thesituation in the East Sea.
Vietnamabsolutely opposes and requests Taiwan not to repeat such violation in thefuture, she said./.
VNA
