VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi described a map recently released by the People's Republic of China as "completely valueless".

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi.— File Photo 

Along with the map, China released its five-year plan for national oceanic development, which Nghi said violated Viet Nam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, as well as its sovereignty and jurisdiction rights in the East Sea.

"Viet Nam affirms its indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, as well as its sovereignty and jurisdiction rights over the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea according to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," he said.

"China's circulation of the map and announcement of the aforementioned master plan seriously violate Viet Nam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa and Viet Nam 's sovereignty and jurisdiction rights in the East Sea."

Such actions breach both international law and an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Viet Nam and China, Nghi said. They also fail to follow the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

He added that China's actions could serve only to raise tensions and complicate the situation in the East Sea.

Source: VNS