An image of Bong Bay (Bombay) Reef in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago (Source: CSIS/AMTI)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam resolutely opposes China’sinstallation of a new structure in Bong Bay (Bombay) Reef in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa(Paracel) archipelago and demands China to immediately end the operation andnot conduct similar actions, said the Foreign Ministry’s Vice SpokespersonNguyen Phuong Tra.
Tra made the statement at the ministry’s regular press conference inHanoi on November 22 in response to reporters’ questions regarding theinformation that China had installed a new structure in Bong Bay (Bombay) Reefof Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.
“Vietnam hassufficient legal grounds and historical evidence testifying its sovereigntyover the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in conformity withinternational law,” she said.
The vice spokesperson stressed that China’s continuous conducting ofactivities in the Hoang Sa archipelago is a serious violation of Vietnam’ssovereignty over the islands, going against the common perspectives reached bysenior leaders of the two countries; infringing upon the agreement on basicprinciples guiding the settlement of sea issues between Vietnam and China, aswell as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed in2002 between ASEAN and China; and making the situation in the East Sea morecomplicated and tense.
Vietnam requests China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty andinternational law, and to take practical actions to contribute to thedevelopment of the Vietnam-China cooperation and friendship, as well as themaintenance of peace and stability in the East Sea.-VNA
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