The Vietnam News Agency affirms that Chinese media reports on four
Chinese marine surveillance ships “blocking” and “driving away” Vietnamese on-duty ships in the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, are totally
untrue.
Upon discovering the Chinese ships trespassing
on Vietnamese waters, Vietnam’s relevant authorities engaged in
actions to protect the country’s sovereignty, requesting those ships to
move out of the Truong Sa area.
Vietnam has sufficient
historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Hoang
Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa Archipelagos.
The so-called
“patrol” by the Chinese ships in the Truong Sa area seriously violated
the national sovereignty of Vietnam, and was not in line with the
spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea
(DOC). It also made the situation in the East Sea more complicated
while negatively affecting regional security and stability.
We strongly protest and request that China stop these wrongful acts
immediately. China should comply with the DOC and not engage in
further acts to further complicate the East Sea situation.-VNA