Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. (Photo: kyodonews.net)
Tokyo (VNA) - Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on August27 the country strongly opposed any behaviour that would increase tensionsin the East Sea.
He made the statement when asked to comment on China’slaunch of anti-ship ballistic missiles into the East Sea on August 26.
Japanhas been watching China’s recent moves in the East Sea with concern, he said, addingthat issues in the waters are directly related to regional peace and security, whichare legitimate interests of the international community, including Japan.
OnAugust 26, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le ThiThu Hang answered reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s response to China’s conductof military exercises in seas to the north-northeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel)archipelago.
She made it clear that China holding military drills inthe Hoang Sa region violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago and rancounter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC) and also complicated the situation, which is unfavourable for ongoing negotiationsbetween China and ASEAN on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) andthe maintenance of a peaceful, stable, and cooperative environment in the East Sea.
“Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnam’s sovereigntyover Hoang Sa archipelago, stop and not repeat such violations,” Hang said./.
