(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry on Friday held an international press conference to inform the media about the latest developments in the East Sea and the legal evidence of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes. The aim of the press conference was also to reject China’s accusations, blaming Vietnam for the East Sea situation as well as refuting China’s sovereignty claim in Hoang Sa. General Director of the Vietnam national Oil and Gas Group Do Van Hau, Deputy head of the National Border Committee Tran Duy Hai, Deputy commander of Vietnam’s Marine Police Ngo Ngoc Thu, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh attended the press conference.

Mr. Binh said that despite Vietnam’s serious discussions at different levels to resolve the situation China did not only not respond positively but also released incorrect information about Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa. Binh said that Vietnam had sufficient historical and legal evidence of its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

Invasion cannot result in sovereignty

Deputy head of the National Border Committee Tran Duy Hai presented the legal evidence of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa. He said that since at least the 17^th century Vietnam had established and exercised its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa when they were claimed by no one. Vietnam’s colonial states exercised uninterrupted sovereignty over these archipelagoes in line with international law. Hai said that China’s sovereignty claim in Hoang Sa was groundless: “Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa was recognized at the San Francisco Conference in September 1951. This conference settled territorial issues after the Second World War with 51 nations taking part. Head of the Vietnamese delegation, Prime Minister of the Bao Dai government Tran Van Huu confirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty over these two archipelagoes without opposition from any of the other 50 participating nations. On the other hand, the Soviet Union’s proposal to grant China the sovereignty of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa was rejected by 46 out of the 51 participating nations.”

Hai also confirmed China’s use of force to occupy Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago in 1974. The use of force to occupy the territory of one sovereign country is illegal, therefore it is impossible to establish legal and legitimate sovereignty rights for China in Hoang Sa.

Vietnam’s oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities are legal

Regarding China’s accusation that Vietnam has divided 57 oil and gas plots and 37 oil rigs in disputed territorial waters,  General Director of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group Do Van Hau affirmed: “ Vietnam’s oil and gas exploitation activities are legal and on Vietnam’s continental shelf in line with regulations of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This has been recognized internationally. Many foreign companies have signed contracts with Vietnam to explore and exploit oil and gas on Vietnam’s continental shelf”.

Mr. Do Van Hau said that China’s stance aims to turn an undisputed area into a disputed one to realize its U-shaped line, which has been strongly criticized by the world community. Vietnam resolutely rejects this view and is determined to protect its rights and interests through peaceful measures and in line with international law. 

1958 diplomatic note did not mention Hoang Sa (Paracel)

Tran Duy Hai rejected China’s claim that Vietnam had officially admitted China’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and wrongly quoted late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s 1958 diplomatic note. Hai said: “It’s necessary to reiterate that late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s 1958 diplomatic note did not mention territorial and sovereignty issues over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. It only acknowledged and approved China’s expansion of its marine territory to 12 nautical miles and asked Vietnamese agencies to respect this 12 nautical mile limit.”