VGP – Viet Nam has demanded China withdraw geological survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 from Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. 

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Hang made the statement on Friday in response to reporters’ query regarding the return of the Chinese geological survey vessel group to Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf on August 13, less than a week after they left Viet Nam’s waters.

The exclusive economic zone and continental shelf fully belong to Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction as defined by the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Spokesperson stressed.

Viet Nam has contacted the Chinese side to protest China’s repeated activities that seriously violate Viet Nam’s waters and to ask China to respect Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction as well as legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law, according to Hang.

Hang said that Viet Nam’s competent authorities continue deployment of measures to secure the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in line with Viet Nam’s law and international law.

She affirmed that Viet Nam attaches great importance to peace, security, and rule of law in the East Sea as well as to goodwill in addressing divergences through peaceful means.

 Viet Nam also attaches importance to, and expects to foster friendly relations with China for the benefits of the two countries and for peace, stability, and security in the region and the world, Hang added.

At the same time, Viet Nam is determined to perseveringly protect its rights and legitimate interests while calling on relevant parties and the international community to make proactive contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea, the region and the world, Hang emphasized./.