Vietnam has once again demanded that China respect its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in response to China’s live-fire drills and construction plan in Hoang Sa.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang 

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang made the statement on March 28 at one of the ministry’s regular press conferences.

She reiterated that “Vietnam has sufficient legal foundation and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in accordance with international law.”

China’s conducting of live-fire drills in Hoang Sa from March 22-24 and its plans to build the islands of Phu Lam, Cay, and Duy Mong in the Vietnamese archipelago into cities and strategic logistics service bases has “seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over this archipelago; run counter to the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China; violated the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); complicated the situation in a way that is unfavourable for the current negotiations between China and ASEAN on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) as well as the maintenance of a peaceful, stable, and cooperative environment in the East Sea,” Hang said.

“Vietnam demands that China stop and not repeat similar activities, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, respect the common perceptions reached by the two countries’ senior leaders as well as international law, and cease activities escalating tensions or complicating the situation in the region,” she emphasised.

Hang added that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had handed over a diplomatic note opposing these activities by China.

At the conference, the spokeswoman was also asked about Vietnam’s comment on US President Donald Trump’s signing of a proclamation recognising the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.

She said: “Vietnam shares the deep concerns of the international community over the recent developments relating to the status of the Golan Heights. We call on the related parties to act in line with relevant resolutions of the United Nations, respect international law, and resolve disagreements via dialogue for the sake of sustainable peace in the Middle East and the world.” –VNA