China’s announcement of launching a live-fire drill in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago is a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, threatening peace and stability in the region and the East Sea, said the Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on September 5.

The Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

Vietnam strongly protests this move of China, and strictly demands the country to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa Archipelago and not to repeat the action, thus not harming peace and stability in the region and the East Sea, stressed Hang.

“Vietnam once again affirms the resolve to safeguard her sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests in the East Sea through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the United Nations Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” stated the spokesperson.

VNA