Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang told reporters during a regular press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday that China’s military exercises in the Paracel Islands violate Vietnam’s sovereignty, go against the Declaration of Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and are  conducive to the ongoing negotiation process between China and ASEAN on the Code of Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea, as well as the maintenance of a peaceful and stable environment and co-operation.

Vietnam has handed over a note of opposition, and requested that China avoid similar actions in the future.

Also at the press briefing, the spokesperson objected to China moving its Haiyang Dizhi 4 exploration ship into Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone, affirming that any exploration, survey, and scientific research activities in Vietnamese waters defined under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are subject to local consent in accordance with the Convention. Respect for national sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and UNCLOS provisions are of paramount importance to maintaining peace, stability, security, and co-operation in the East Sea.