Commenting on several foreign brands’ use of maps showing the illegal nine-dash
line on their Chinese-language websites, Hang stressed that as affirmed many
times before, Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal ground to
affirm its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa in line with international
law, as well as sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over relevant
waters in the East Sea as defined in accordance with the 1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Every form of propaganda to spread things that are against historical truth and
international law is valueless and will not be able to change the truth about
Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, as well as the East Sea
issue, she said.
About Vietnam’s stance on recent developments in the East Sea and related
issues, including Chinese vessels’ operation in the Bai Ba Dau (Whitsun Reef) in
Vietnam’s Truong Sa, the spokeswoman affirmed that Vietnamese competent
authorities always keep a close watch over developments in the East Sea, and
protect and enforce the country’s sovereignty, sovereign right and national
jurisdiction at sea and in Vietnamese waters in accordance with international
law and the 1982 UNCLOS.
She made it clear that peace, stability, cooperation and development in the East
Sea is the common aspiration and goal of countries in the East Sea, in the
region and of the international community. The respect for legal order at sea
and the full, consistent, good-will and responsible implementation of the 1982
UNCLOS hold significance to achieving such goals.
Vietnam calls on countries to contribute to maintaining peace, stability and
cooperation in the East Sea, follow international law and the UNCLOS, seriously
abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, especially
the obligation to exercise self-restraint, refraining from complicating the
situation, creating a favourable environment for the negotiations on an
effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea, thus contributing to
fostering trust, maintaining peace, stability, and promoting international order
at sea and security, safety, navigation freedom in the East Sea, she said.
Source: VNA