Vietnam asks China to maintain peace in East Sea

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam asks China, as a large nation in the region and the world, to perform its responsibility in maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, stated Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on May 8.

Hang was in reply to reporters’ questions related to news run by foreign media that China has placed missiles at structures it illegally constructed on Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Vietnam is deeply concerned about the information, said Hang, affirming that all militarised activities, including the installation of missiles on Truong Sa archipelago, seriously violate the country’s sovereignty over the islands, go against the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China, and infringe the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) between ASEAN and China. The actions cause tension and instability in the region and harm efforts of nations in negotiating for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, she added.

“Vietnam has sufficient legal foundations and historical evidence proving its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in line with international law,” she stressed.

Vietnam asks China not to conduct militarised activities and withdraw all military equipment that it has illegally deployed in structures belonging to Vietnam’s sovereignty, Hang underscored.

She also requested China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos, and strictly abide by the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China as well as the DOC.-VNA