Vietnam demands relevant parties not complicate South China Sea situation

HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN): Spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Lê Thị Thu Hằng (pic) on Thursday (June 24) emphasised Vietnam’s demand for relevant parties to not take any action that further complicates the situation in the South China Sea (East Sea), but contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the waters.

At the ministry’s virtual regular press conference, she made the remarks in response to reporters’ question about the Chinese reconnaissance vessels and aircraft recently spotted in the vicinity of Chữ Thập (Fiery Cross) Reef in Vietnam’s Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

The spokeswoman once again stated that Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to testify to its sovereignty over Trường Sa archipelago in line with international law.

Any activity violating Vietnam’s sovereignty over and related rights in this archipelago is illegal and void, Hằng said.

In the current regional and international context, Vietnam demands the parties concerned to not take any action further complicating the situation in the East Sea but make practical and active contributions to the maintenance of peace and stability in the waters while creating a favourable environment for the negotiation on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), she emphasised.

With regard to China’s recent launch of a project tagging floral species in Vietnam’s Hoàng Sa (Paracel) archipelago, the spokeswoman said Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that it has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to testify to its sovereignty over Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa archipelagos in accordance with international law.

Any action under any form that infringes Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoàng Sa and Trường islands as well as the country’s sovereign right and jurisdiction over its sea areas is null and void and unrecognised, and Viietnam resolutely objects to such action, she added. — Vietnam News/Asia News Network