Vietnamese competent authorities have always kept a close watch on all activities in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos as well as Viet Nam’s waters in the East Sea, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. 

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang 

Le made the above statement at the ministry’s press conference on Thursday regarding reports saying that several Chinese vessels appeared near Tri Ton island in Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa archipelago.

As affirmed many times before, Viet Nam has sufficient historical evidence and legal ground to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in accordance with international law, Le stated.

Viet Nam, as a signatory of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over related waters in the East Sea as prescribed by the aforementioned convention, she stressed.

The Spokesperson also made it clear again that all relevant parties must fully respect Viet Nam’s legitimate rights and interests over its waters, especially the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as defined in the 1982 UNCLOS as well as related bilateral agreements.

Commenting on a report that the chief of staff of the Philippines’ armed forces made a visit to Thi Tu island of Viet Nam’s Truong Sa archipelago, Le stressed that Viet Nam resolutely protests all acts that violate Viet Nam’s sovereignty and related rights over the Truong Sa archipelago.

All relevant parties must respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty, international law, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, take no actions that may further complicate the situation, make practical and positive contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, and create a favorable environment conducive to negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, the Spokesperson said.