China urged to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty

She made the remarks on August 10 in reply to reporters’ questions regarding China’s recent activities in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, including celebrations marking six years of the so-called “Sansha city” and installing wave monitoring devices on Phu Lam island.

Additionally, China Central Television’s (CCTV) children’s channel recently launched a reality TV show for kids on the Hoang Sa archipelago. The Sun Yat-sen University of China also conducted a series of scientific surveys on the Hoang Sa islands.

These actions of China have not only seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos but also run counter to the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People’s Republic of China.

They are inconsistent with the important common perceptions of the two countries’ senior leaders on well controlling sea-related disagreement and the fine development trend of the bilateral relations.

These actions are also contrary to the spirit and content of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and detrimental to the negotiations between ASEAN and China on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), as well as the maintaining of an environment of peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the East Sea and the region.

“Vietnam vehemently opposes these actions and requests China to immediately end the aforementioned activities, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, seriously implement the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People’s Republic of China, along with the DOC, refrain from making the situation more complex, and contribute in a practical and active manner to developing the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China for peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Sea and the region," Hang said.

Representatives from the two foreign ministries had a meeting to talk about the issue, the official added.