Nguyen Phuong Nga told reporters on December 29 that “Vietnam has more than once reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.”

“All activities by other countries, including the issuance of legal regulations regarding the two archipelagos as well as the exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of Vietnam in the East Sea has absolutely no legal value,” emphasised the spokeswoman referring to China’s approval of a law protecting the islands.