China Daily’s information about Vietnam’s armed maritime militia refuted
VOV.VN - Vietnam rejects China Daily's information that Vietnam is building an armed militia at sea, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said at the foreign ministry’s press briefing on January 20, while emphasizing that the information is incorrect and Vietnam completely refutes it.
China Daily recently published information that Vietnamese fishing boats have armed militias, claiming that Vietnam is building a militia and self-defense force at sea and this can cause tension to current disputes in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea), thereby leading to possible confrontations.
Vietnam persists with the policy of national defence, security, peace and self-defence. Activities of Vietnamese functional forces absolutely comply with Vietnamese and international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The country always makes every effort to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, cooperation and development in the East Sea in accordance with international law, including the UNCLOS, Hang said.
“The nation calls on countries inside and outside the region to make practical and responsible contributions to this goal," the spokesperson affirmed.