Vietnam rejects all maritime claims of China, untruthful information about Khmer people’s situation

Spokeswoman of the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang made the statement on August 31 in reply to reporters’ questions regarding Vietnam’s response to the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)’s release of the so-called “standard map 2023” which covers Vietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

The issuance of the map as well as China’s “nine-dash line” claim show a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, as well as Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its waters as stipulated in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), Hang emphasized.

Therefore, the sovereignty and maritime claims based on the “nine-dash line” as reflected in the map are void and violate international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, the spokeswoman added.

The same day, the official also answered reporter's query about Vietnam’s response to Khmer Kampuchea Krom’s distorted allegations regarding the situation of the Khmer people in Vietnam,

"Vietnam refutes groundless and untruthful information about the situation of the Khmer people in the country. The Khmer people are an integral part of the community of 54 fraternal ethnic groups in Vietnam, who have been coexisting equally and harmoniously, and jointly contributing to the cause of national construction and defence throughout the country's history," she said.

All ethnic groups in Vietnam are treated equally, she said, adding that the Vietnamese State ensures and creates favourable conditions for the comprehensive development in order to continuously improve the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minority people, preserve their ethnic identity and uphold their fine customs, habits, traditions and cultures, contributing to reinforcing the great national unity bloc.