Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – ForeignMinistry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang condemned Taiwan (China)’s violations ofVietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago during a pressconference in Hanoi on May 31.
All activities of Taiwanin Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago, including its live-fire drill on Ba Binhisland from May 23-25, seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over thearchipelago, threatened peace, stability and maritime safety and security, causedtensions and complicated the situation in the East Sea, she stressed.
Hang underscored thatVietnam resolutely protests the activities and requests Taiwan not to repeat suchacts again.
Regarding Vietnam’sreaction against China’s live-fire drill in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel)archipelago, Hang stated that from May 9-12, China continued carrying out its live-firedrills in the islands, severely infringing Vietnam’s sovereignty over thearchipelago, and running counter to the agreement on basic principals guidingthe settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China as well as thespirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
The acts have complicated the situation in the East Sea, and affectednegotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN andChina as well as the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in thewaters, she added.
Vietnam asks China notto conduct similar activities, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa andTruong Sa archipelagos as well as common perspectives reached by senior leadersof the two countries and international law, while ending all moves escalatingtensions and complicating situation in the region, Hang said.
“Vietnam has sufficient legal foundations andhistorical evidence proving its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Saarchipelagos,” she declared.-VNA
VNA
