A representative from the National Border Committee under the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry made the statement while answering reporters’ questions on a China News website report on July 12 that 30 fishing ships of Hainan province departed from Sanya port to catch fish around the Chu Thap (Cross) ground of the Truong Sa archipelago. 

Vietnam’s stance on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos have been affirmed many times, he said. 

Vietnam asks the Chinese side to educate and guide its fishermen to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty and territory and to comply with international law, he stressed.