China should respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes and cancel tours of Vietnam’s Paracel islands. 

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, made the statement at the ministry’s regular press briefing in Hanoi on December 3, following news that China recently resumed cruise ship tours of the Paracel islands.

“All activities conducted in these two archipelagoes without Vietnam’s permission seriously violate the country’s sovereignty, breach international law and are declared null and void,” said Hang.

She asked China to stop such tours and other activities that may increase tensions, complicate the situation, and run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) known as the East Sea in Vietnam.

She added that these activities are not conducive to the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the South China Sea, as well as to concerned parties’ ongoing efforts in negotiating the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and bilateral relations.

“Vietnam once again holds it has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in accordance with international law”, stressed the spokesperson.

Earlier, on December 1, the Chinese province of Hainan announced it has resumed cruise routes to Vietnam’s Paracel Islands illegally occupied by China, following an 11-month hiatus due to COVID-19.