Vietnam responds to China sending research vessel to Hoang Sa

“Vietnam has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, as well as legal rights to Vietnam’s territorial waters as defined in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” Le Thi Thu Hang, spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry said.

Hang made the statement during the ministry’s regular press conference held on July 8 in Hanoi in response to a reporter's question about information that China is poised to send its largest research vessel to the Vietnamese Paracel Islands.

Earlier on July 6, the South China Morning Post reported that research ship Sun Yat-sen is set to be deployed in the East Sea. The purpose of China sending the research ship into the East Sea is to promote the survey and exploration of resource-rich sea areas.

With regard to women’s participation in Vietnam’s coast guard force, the official affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always strive to fine-tune its policies and laws to ensure gender equality and empowerment for women, thus offering favourable conditions for them to access and engage in aspects of the social life, including improving their role and position in the armed forces.

Vietnam's efforts to ensure gender equality has been recognised and earned international plaudits, she said.

According to the spokesperson, female coast guards in different positions have well fulfilled their assigned tasks as a means of carrying out the Party and State’s political commitment as a responsible member of the international community, staying ready to join hands to deal with international issues, maintain an environment of peace, security and stability for the sake of cooperation and development in the region and the wider world.