Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam opposes and resolutely rejects China’s unilateraldecision to ban fishing in the East Sea, covering Vietnam’s waters, from May 1to August 16, 2019, said Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi ThuHang.
Hangmade the statement while answering reporters’ query regarding China’s fishingban on May 4.
Sheelaborated that the ban has violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel)archipelago as well as the country’s legitimate rights and interests in its seaareas.
Ithas also infringed international law, including the 1982 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and run counter to the spirit and wordingof the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) between theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, and the Vietnam-Chinaagreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea, Hangadded.
“Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds andhistorical evidence testifying its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa(Spratly) archipelagos, and legitimate rights over its waters in conformitywith the 1982 UNCLOS,” the spokesperson said.
Measures to preserve organism resources should betaken in line with the 1982 UNCLOS and not harm sovereign rights andjurisdiction at sea of countries concerned, she noted.-VNA
VNA