China’s activities in Sansha city void of sense: FM spokesman

China’s activities in the so-called Sansha city have no legal foundation and do not change the fact that Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago belongs to Vietnam.

Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh made the remark while responding at the Ministry’s regular press conference on Oct. 15 to reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s response to information in the Chinese People’s Daily newspaper that the government of Sansha city has been installing high-speed wireless broadcasting equipment on inhabited islands since October 1.

“Vietnam has rejected the so-called Sansha city many times. Under any form or for whatever purpose, China’s activities in the city have no legal foundation and do not change the fact that Hoang Sa archipelago belongs to Vietnam,” he said.

Regarding Vietnam’s response to the Philippines’ Diplomat newspaper’s comment that China is virtually implementing the Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East Sea, the FM Spokesman said all activities of the involved parties in the East Sea must respect the sovereignty, sovereignty rights, and jurisdiction of relevant countries.

The activities must be in line with international law and in the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability and aviation and navigation safety and security in the East Sea, Binh said.

Pertaining to Vietnam’s response to the New York Times carrying the news that the US has exchanged with Asian countries on bringing ships to patrol within 12 nautical miles of China’s artificial islands in the East Sea, the diplomat said the East Sea holds a crucial role in the Southeast Asian region as well as across the world.

Countries in and out of the region are equally responsible for maintaining and promoting peace, stability, along with aviation and navigation freedom, safety, and security in the East Sea.

The contributions must be based on international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the DOC, in a bid to reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) as soon as possible, he added.-VNA