Vietnam responds to China's unilateral ban on fishing in East Sea
VOV.VN - China's so-called fishing ban infringes on Vietnamese sovereignty over the (Paracel) archipelago, Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the territorial waters within the nation’s exclusive economic zone, as defined by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Doan Khac Viet, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the statement on April 20 in reply to reporters’ questioning about the country’s reaction to the Chinese announcement of a fishing ban in the East Sea from May 1 to August 16.
“Vietnam's stance on the so-called illegal fishing ban unilaterally issued by China in the East Sea is consistent. This stance has been clearly affirmed over the years,” he stated.
The country asks that China respect its sovereignty over the Paracels, the sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over Vietnam's territorial waters, whilst not further complicating the situation and contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, the official added.