VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s ratification of the Law of the Sea is normal and it is a necessary task of a coastal sovereign country, a member of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, said the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi.


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 Vietnamese navy soldiers on Truong Sa Archipelago. Photo: Minh Thang


At a regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 10, answering a reporter's question on Vietnam's reaction to Taiwan’s announcement on implementing oil and gas exploration in the waters around the island of Ba Binh, in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said that this action is "seriously violating Vietnam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa Islands."

"Vietnam has sufficient historical and legal evidence for its claims of sovereignty of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands. Taiwan's planned oil and gas exploration in the sea around Ba Binh Island seriously violates Vietnam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa Islands, causes international tension and complicates the situation in the East Sea. Vietnam resolutely opposes the action and requests Taiwan to cancel the above illegal plan," he said.

At the press conference, foreign correspondents also questioned about Vietnam’s comments on China and Taiwan’s recently voiced concern that once the Law of the Sea of Vietnam takes effect, it will affect relations with the countries in the region.

Mr. Nghi said Vietnam’s adoption of the Law of the Sea is normal and a necessary work of a coastal sovereign country, a member of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

"The Law of the Sea of Vietnam clearly affirms Vietnam's policy on peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea on the basis of international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 and the related agreements and mechanisms, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, security and cooperation in the East Sea," the spokesman stated.

Linh Thu