China asked to withdraw fishing boats from Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago
VOV.VN - Vietnam demanded that China withdraw its fishing vessels from Sinh Ton island cluster of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago and respect Vietnam's sovereignty.
Deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang made the statement when commenting on satellite image information showing that the Chinese fleet was present again around Sinh Ton island cluster in the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam, even up to 150 vehicles at times.
“As repeatedly affirmed, Vietnam has full legal foundations and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in accordance with international law. The nation is entitled to enjoy its sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over its territorial waters defined in conformity with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982),” Hang said.
According to the deputy spokesperson, Vietnam resolutely and persistently takes measures in accordance with international law to protect those legal and legitimate rights.
Chinese ships operating within the territorial waters of Sinh Ton island cluster in the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam has seriously violated the nation's sovereignty and the provisions of the UNCLOS 1982, while running counter to the spirit of the Declaration of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC), Hang added.
VOV