Vietnam rejects all claims of China in East Sea: Spokeswoman

Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam strongly reiterates its consistent stance on the sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spartly), and resolutely rejects any maritime claims of China that are based on the "dotted line" in the East Sea, spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang affirmed on August 31.

Hang made the statement while answering reporters’questions regarding Vietnam’s response to the Chinese Ministry of NaturalResources (MNR)’s release of the so-called “standard map 2023” which coversVietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

The issuance of the map as well as China’s "dotted line" claim show a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, aswell as Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over itswaters as stipulated in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of theSea (1982 UNCLOS), she stressed.

Therefore, the sovereignty and maritime claims basedon the "dotted line" as reflected in the map are void and violate internationallaw, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, the spokeswoman said./.

VNA