Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang condemned Taiwan (China)’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago during a press conference in Hanoi on May 31.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

All activities of Taiwan in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago, including its live-fire drill on Ba Binh island from May 23-25, seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, threatened peace, stability and maritime safety and security, caused tensions and complicated the situation in the East Sea, she stressed.

Hang underscored that Vietnam resolutely protests the activities and requests Taiwan not to repeat such acts again.

Regarding Vietnam’s reaction against China’s live-fire drill in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, Hang stated that from May 9-12, China continued carrying out its live-fire drills in the islands, severely infringing Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, and running counter to the agreement on basic principals guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China as well as the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC). 

The acts have complicated the situation in the East Sea, and affected negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China as well as the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the waters, she added.

Vietnam asks China not to conduct similar activities, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos as well as common perspectives reached by senior leaders of the two countries and international law, while ending all moves escalating tensions and complicating situation in the region, Hang said.

“Vietnam has sufficient legal foundations and historical evidence proving its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos,” she declared.-VNA