Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Hang said China’s deployment of fighter jets to Phu Lam (Woody) island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago earlier this month violated Vietnam’s sovereignty: "As we have repeatedly confirmed that Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos are inseparable parts of Vietnam. Vietnam has sufficient legal foundation and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the two archipelagos in line with international law. The deployment of weapons and fighter jets to Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands not only violates Vietnam’s sovereignty but also complicates the situation in the East Sea. We call on parties to responsibly contribute to maintaining peace, stability and security in the East Sea."

In regards to Chinese coastguard vessels deployed near Vietnam’s continental shelf in the recent past, Hang said Vietnam will protect its legitimate rights and interests in the East Sea: "Vietnam’s forces at sea closely follow developments in the East Sea and enforce the law in a peaceful, legal manner to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty, and legitimate rights and interests."

Hang said all activities need to strictly abide by international law, respect sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction of concerned parties in waters defined in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.