Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh (Photo: VNA)Hanoi, (VNA) – Vietnam has reiterated its sovereignty over theTruong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracels) archipelagoes, and held that allconstruction and reclamation at the two archipelagoes without Vietnam’spermission are illegal.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh made the statement on February23 in responding to reporters’ question on Vietnam’s reaction to reports thatChina has almost completed the construction of more than 20 structures whichcould be storage facilities of long-range surface-to-air missile on artificialislands in the East Sea.
“Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence” to proveits sovereignty over the two archipelagos, Binh said, adding that Vietnam willverify the information.
He highlighted Vietnam’s consistent stance on settling disputes in theEast Sea by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and with full and effectiveobservance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.
“Vietnam urges related parties tobehave in a responsible manner and refrain from taking any action that canfurther complicate the situation, particularly militarization that threatenspeace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight inthe East Sea,” he said.-VNA
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