Foreign ministry's deputy spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said China's strengthening of militarization actions on some entities that are part of Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) not only violates Viet Nam's sovereignty over the archipelago, but also sparks concerns among other countries in the region and the international community, as reflected in ASEAN documents.

This is not conducive to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the East Sea, said Pham.

Viet Nam has sufficient legal and historical grounds to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in accordance with international law, as well as its sovereign right and jurisdiction over the waters as defined by international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Viet Nam demands that China respect its sovereignty, stop militarization, avoid actions that may cause tensions in the region, and maintain conditions conducive to accelerate negotiations on a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Pham emphasized.

The statement was issued in response to a reporter's inquiry that China is flexing military muscle with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets in three islands in the East Sea./.