Vietnam asked parties to refrain from actions that could complicate the situation in the East Sea , and instead contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said on Sept. 16.

Nghi made the statement on Sept. 16 in response to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s reaction to information saying that China had recently sent a 1,000 tonne fishing ship to Truong Sa (Spratly) to assist with aquaculture and fishing and about 500 fishing vessels regularly operated in the area; and other information about China opposing India’s cooperation with Vietnam in exploring oil and gas at Lot 127 and Lot 128 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.

“ Vietnam affirms its uncontroversial sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. All activities of parties in the area without Vietnam ’s acceptance are violations of its sovereignty.”

Vietnam affirms that cooperation projects between Vietnam and foreign partners in oil and gas, including projects at Lot 127 and 128, located in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, completely belong within the rights of sovereignty and jurisdiction, in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international practice and reality, and multilateral and bilateral agreements signed by Vietnam, he said.

“Objections against cooperation between Vietnam and foreign partners in Vietnam ’s continental shelf and 200-nautical mile economic exclusive zone are legally groundless and invalid,” Nghi said./.