Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos, foreign ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang has affirmed.

Thi Tu island captured in late 2018 (Source: AMTI)

Hang made the statement on March 14 in response to reporters’ queries over Vietnam’s reaction to recent developments on Truong Sa archipelago’s Thi Tu island.

While seeking peaceful solutions to disputes in the East Sea on the basis of international law and to facilitate negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), related parties should absolutely obey the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), especially regulations on self-restraining and avoiding behaviours that complicate and escalate disputes, she said.

The parties involved should also be responsible and have practical and positive contributions to peace and stability in the region, Hang added.–VNA