Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh said on July 11 Vietnam welcomes the US Senate’s passage of resolution 412 on the East Sea, asking China to fully observe international law and withdraw its oil platform from Vietnam’s waters in the East Sea.

The Senate on July 10 adopted resolution 412, affirming the US government’s strong support for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes.

Vietnam welcomes the passage of the resolution that demands China withdraw its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 and escort forces from the existing position and stop further activities contrary to the rules of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), said spokesperson Binh.

The resolution also condemned coercive and threatening actions or the use of force to impede freedom of operations in international airspace by military or civilian aircraft, to alter the status quo or to destabilise the Asia-Pacific region.

Vietnam does hope that countries in the region and beyond, including the US, will continue to make a strong, practical, efficient and constructive contribution to peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region, he said.

VOV/VNN