Vietnam asks the Chinese side to respect the country’s sovereignty and end all activities violating its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, making practical contributions to maintaining peace and stability on the East Sea .

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi made the request on March 15 in response to the Chinese side’s recent activities over Vietnam ’s Hoang Sa ( Paracel) archipelago.

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has recently offered oil and gas tenders for 19 lots in the north of the East Sea , including Lot 65/24, about one nautical mile from the Tree Island of the Hoang Sa archipelago.

On March 2, the Guard Ship Fleet No. 11 of China conducted a live ammunition drill in the waters of the Hoang Sa archipelago.

On March 7, at the fifth session of the 11 th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the Deputy Director of the National Administration of Tourism of China (NATC) said the NATC and the authorities of Hainan province are cooperating to expand tourist activities on the Hoang Sa archipelago.

On March 12, on the “Powerful Nation Forum” of the People’s Network, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China said in its 12 th five-year plan, China will build an archaeological centre at the bottom of the East Sea and a working station on the Hoang Sa archipelago.

The Hainan authorities also plan to organise a yacht race from San Ya to the Hoang Sa archipelago on March 28.

According to the Vietnamese spokesman, Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos are inseparable parts of the Vietnamese territory. The above-mentioned activities of China have seriously violated Vietnam ’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago and international law and went against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed in 2002 between ASEAN and China .

“These acts run counter to the common perception of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders and are not beneficial to the development of the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and China,” Nghi stressed.-VNA