China’s illegal activities in East Sea must be ended: FM spokesman

Hanoi (VNA) – Illegal activities that have been continuously deployed by China cannot change the fact that Vietnam has sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh on June 24.

Binh made the statement while fielding queries from reporters concerning information from Chinese media over China’s construction on and plans related to the two archipelagos.

China has continued building and operating a number of facilities on Truong Sa, including a hospital on the Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef and a farm on Xubi (Subi) Reef, while its state-run shipping company COSCO said it plans to launch tours to Hoang Sa.

The FM Spokesman said: “Vietnam has repeatedly expressed its clear and consistent stance on the subject. Vietnam has indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. Either illegal construction and use of facilities on Truong Sa or the arrangement of tours to Hoang Sa carried out by China seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagoes.”

“Vietnam strongly objects to these activities. Vietnam requests China to respect the country’s sovereignty over the two archipelagoes, to immediately put an end to these violations without similar repetition in the future, and to stringently comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), practically contributing to maintaining peace and security in the East Sea,” Binh stated.-VNA