China, as a big country in the region and the world, needs to act responsibly and constructively in the maintenance of peace and stability in the region as well as in the East Sea on the basis of complying with international law, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang has said. 

A photo shows China's island reclamation in the East Sea (Photo: CSIS)

Hang made the statement at the ministry’s regular press conference on June 15 while answering a question about the information that China is in the process of militarising islands in Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes.

“Vietnam has sufficient legal foundation and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos,” she stressed. 

Any activities by foreign countries in the areas of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission is completely illegal and cannot change the fact that Vietnam has sovereignty over these two archipelagos, she added.

VNA