(VNA) - Vietnam’s consistent position on East Sea-related issues is that they should be resolved by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry’ National Border Committee Nguyen Duy Chien on Thursday answered reporters’ question on Vietnam’s response to the Philippines’ decision to take China to an arbitral tribunal in accordance with Article 287 and Annex VII of the UNCLOS. He highlighted Vietnam’s belief that countries have the right to choose peaceful measures to resolve disputes in line with the UN Charter and international law, including the UNCLOS.

Navy Force of the Philippines stops foreign fishermen at Scarborough Shoar (Photo: AP)

Chien also responded to a question relating to the plan of the China National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geo-information to publish late this month the “National Map of China” and the “Topographic map of China” in a new vertical format that will include the “nine-dashed line” also called the “cow tongue” line, islands, rocks and shoals in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes. Chien affirmed Vietnam’s indisputable sovereignty over the two archipelagoes as well as its sovereign right and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea under the UNCLOS. He stressed that all maps featuring false information on Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, its sovereign right and jurisdiction in the East Sea is illegal and void.