The establishment of a military garrison in the so-called Sansha City and the election of its municipal people’s council violates international law as well as Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos.

In response to China’s Central Military Commission’s decision to set up a military garrison in the so-called Sansha City and elect a municipal people’s council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Le Thanh Nghi said these worthless acts go against the common awareness of the two countries’ leaders and the basic principles for settling East Sea issues between Vietnam and China.

They also run contrary to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed by ASEAN and China in 2002, and make the situation in the East Sea more complicated, he said.

FM spokesman Nghi said Vietnam strongly opposes these actions and asks China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty and stop these wrongful acts, for the sake of bilateral friendship and cooperation, as well as peace and stability in the East Sea.

** On the same day, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note to its Chinese counterpart to protest the acts.

** Also on July 24, the Chairmen of the Danang and Khanh Hoa People’s Committees issued statements expressing the authorities’ and people’s concern and discontent regarding the establishment of a military garrison in Sansha City and the election of a municipal people’s council.

They said China’s wrongful actions cannot change the fact that the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos are inseparable parts of Vietnam.

Danang City and Khanh Hoa province strongly protest these actions and asked the Chinese side to stop violating Vietnamese and  international laws, which hampers joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region and could damage the friendship between the two peoples, the statement said.

VNA