US, Vietnamese defence chiefs stress peaceful resolution of South China Sea issues

Vietnamese and US defence delegations held talks on Thursday morning in Hanoi. - VNA/VNS

HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN): Vietnamese Minister of Defence, General Phan Văn Giang, and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin, have underlined the need to respect international law in the South China Sea (known in Vietnam as the East Sea) during talks in Hanoi on Thursday (July 29).

The two defence chiefs said they are linked by a mutual understanding of the importance of respecting the legal rights of coastal countries, and a belief in the resolution of disputes and conflicts via peaceful means.