Vietnam protests China’s military drills on Hoang Sa archipelago
(VOVWORLD) -Vietnam has all legal and historical evidence on its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang in response to a reporter’s question on China’s drills involving a long-range bomber on Hoang Sa.
 Vietnam's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. |
Ms. Hang said the bomber’s landing and take-off drills on Hoang Sa seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelagoes, run counter to the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China, infringe the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and have a negative impact on ASEAN-China negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
She stressed that the move has fueled tensions and caused instability in the region, and is not beneficial to peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Sea. Ms. Hang said Vietnam requests China immediately stop such actions and militarization, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa, and strictly abide by the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.