Vietnam rejects China’s stance on Xiang Yang Hong 10 operation in East Sea

Xiang Yang Hong 10 escorted by a number of other Chinese vessels entered the territorial waters of Vietnam’s economic exclusive zone in early May.

Vietnam described the move as a violation of its sovereignty and immediately demanded that China withdraw the vessels from the Vietnamese waters.

The Chinese vessels were said on June 5 to leave the Vietnamese waters, heading for China’s Hainan island.

However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a press briefing on June 6 blatantly said that China has sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and adjacent waters, referring to Vietnam’s Spratly Islands.

Wang even said that the Chinese vessels were legally carrying out normal research activities in the waters under China’s jurisdiction.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Thu Hang on June 10 emphasized that Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in the East Sea.

The legal status of the Spratly Islands as well as the features of these islands have been clearly defined under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, stressed Hang.

She emphasized that sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over maritime zones of a state prescribed in the 1982 UNCLOS, as well as the legitimate rights and interests of coastal states, including Vietnam, must be respected.

This shows the sense of responsibility, construction and practical contributions of relevant countries to peace, stability, cooperation and respect for the rule of law in the region, including the East Sea region, said the Vietnamese spokesperson.