A Vietnamese naval soldier on Da Lat Island, Truong Sa archipelago (Photo: VNA)Hanoi, (VNA) – Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnam’ssovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos,Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at the Foreign Ministry’sregular press conference on December 3.
All activities without Vietnam’s permission at the Hoang Sa and TruongSa archipelagos violate Vietnam’s sovereignty and international law, thushaving no legal validity, Hang said in reply to a reporter’s question regardingChina’s recent moves in the East Sea.
The reporter mentioned China’s latest moves in the East Sea, including Hainanprovince’s announcement to resume travel tours to Hoang Sa, and the Chinese navyreceiving a hospital ship at the wharf on Da Chu Thap (FieryCross Reef) in Truong Sa archipelago.
Vietnam urges China to cancel and end the organization of tours toVietnam’s Hoang Sa as well as actions that can intensify tension and complicatethe situation, run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea (DOC) and are unfavourable for the maintenance of a peaceful, stableand cooperative environment in the East Sea, countries’ efforts in negotiatinga Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and the ties between the two countries,Hang said.
She reiterated that Vietnam has full legal grounds and historicalevidence testifying to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa inaccordance with international law.
Asked to comment on Taiwan (China)’s live-fire drills on November 24 inthe waters around Ba Binh (internationally known as ItuAba) Island in the Truong Sa archipelago of Vietnam, thespokeswoman made clear that Taiwan’s move had seriously violated Vietnam’sterritorial sovereignty over the archipelago, threatened peace, stability, and maritimesafety and security, caused tension and further complicated the situation inthe East Sea.
“Vietnam resolutely opposes to, and demands that Taiwan (China) neither holdthe illegal drills nor repeat the violation in the future,” Hang stressed./.
VNA
