A naval soldier stands guard at a sovereignty marker on Truong Sa Lon island (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam requests parties concerned to respect its sovereigntyand international law and abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea (DOC) and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS), Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
She made the statement during the ministry’s regular press conference inHanoi on May 27, in response to media questions about Vietnam’s stance on thePhilippines’ preparations for the repair and upgrade of runway andinfrastructure on Thi Tu (Thitu) Island in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.
Hang affirmed that Vietnam has sufficient legal basis and historicalevidence to affirm its sovereignty over Truong Sa in accordance withinternational law. Every act violating Vietnam’s sovereignty and related rightson Truong Sa is illegal and valueless.
She also said Vietnam urges parties concerned to refrain from actionsthat could complicate the situation, and to make practical and activecontributions to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea and create anenvironment conducive to negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea(COC).
Maintaining peace, stability, order, security, and safety and freedom of navigationand overflight, abiding by law, and respecting the sovereignty and sovereignand jurisdictional rights of countries in the East Sea is the goal, interest,responsibility and common aspiration of all countries and the internationalcommunity, she said, adding that Vietnam wishes that parties would strive tomake responsible contributions to the issue./.
