China asked to withdraw vessels out of Vietnam’s territorial waters

Le Thi Thu Hang, deputy spokeswoman of the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the statement on May 25, while answering reporters’ queries regarding the country’s reaction to the recent intrusion of the Vietnam's exclusive economic zone by survey ship Huong Duong Hong 10, along with Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels.

Recently, as reported, Chinese survey ship Huong Duong Hong 10, along with a number of coast guard and fishing vessels, violated the nation’s exclusive economic zone established in accordance with regulations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and competent Vietnamese agencies have communicated many times with the Chinese side and implemented measures in accordance with international law and Vietnamese law in a bid to ensure the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese side therefore requests that Chinese relevant agencies abide by the common perception of the two countries' senior leaders by immediately stopping trespassing activities, as well as withdrawing Huong Duong Hong 10 ship and other coast guard and fishing vessels out of Vietnam’s territorial waters.

This should be done along with respecting the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, strictly implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and maintaining peace, co-operation, and development in the East Sea, thereby contributing to the overall development of relations between the two sides.