Vietnam firmly requests China immediately desist upgrade and construction projects that damage or destroy the status quo of Truong Sa archipelago and not repeat similar erroneous actions, Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said.

She reiterated that Vietnam has sufficient legal and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos during a regular press briefing in Hanoi on January 22.

Vietnam firmly requests China respect its sovereignty and seriously abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, she said.-VNA