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