His statementwas in reply to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s response to the April9 speech by Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Hua Chunying aboutthe expansion of underground reefs in Truong Sa.
On this issue, he said Vietnam has conducted a number of interventions, including high-level exchanges with China.
Each construction and expansion project by foreigners on reef islandsin Hoang Sa and Truong Sa that is not explicitly permitted by theGovernment of Vietnam is illegal and invalid, he stated.
Vietnam firmly opposes the above actions and has asked partiesconcerned to fully abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea and make practical contributions to maintaining peace andstability in the East Sea, he added.-VNA