(VOVworld) - Chinese fishermen’s activities around the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago are illegal and violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over this archipelago.

A representative from the National Border Committee under the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry made the statement while answering reporters’ questions on a China News website report on Thursday that 30 fishing ships of Hainan province departed from Sanya port to catch fish around the Chu Thap (Cross) ground of the Truong Sa archipelago. He said Vietnam ’s stance on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos have been affirmed many times. Vietnam asks the Chinese side to educate and guide its fishermen to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty and territory and to comply with international law.