VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has once again affirmed Vietnam’s indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh.

In his address at a Foreign Ministry press briefing on July 24, Le Hai Binh said that all Chinese activities in the two archipelagos are illegal and invalid. He was responding to questions on Vietnam’s reaction to China’s dredging of a 1.7 km channel around Duy Mong (Drummond) island, part of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago.

Concerning Finland’s temporary seizure of a military equipment shipment from Vietnam to Ukraine, the official stated that this is a batch of military equipment on the way to Ukraine for repair and maintenance within the framework of conventional military cooperation between Vietnam and Ukraine.

Vietnam is working with competent agencies to deal with customs clearance while the batch is in transit in Finland.

Regarding a stabbing attack by a Chinese man, killing three Vietnamese women and seriously injuring two others in Fangchenggang City, China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on July 22, Binh said Vietnamese diplomatic mission in China has urgently contacted Chinese authorities to verify the information and identities of victims.

“The Vietnamese consular in Nanning has promptly worked with local authorities in Guangxi province to provide immediate treatment for the victims and carry out an early investigation. Vietnam Foreign Ministry’s Chief of the Consular Department also met Deputy Chinese ambassador in Hanoi to dilate the issue.” Binh said.

Regarding support to victims of the flight MH17 crash, the spokesperson said Vietnamese representative agencies in Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands are working hand in hand with local agencies while giving instruction to families of three Vietnamese victims on board the MH17 plane downed in eastern Ukraine so that their bodies could be brought home as soon as possible.

They also urged for timely treatment for the victims and an investigation into the case.

VOV/VNN