Vietnam Foreign Ministry speaks about recent developments in East Sea

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang made the statement in reply to some Vietnamese and foreign reporters’ question about the recent developments in the East Sea. The official reaffirmed Vietnam’s determination to peacefully struggle against violations of its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its sea areas.

“Vietnam has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the sea areas in the East Sea that were stipulated in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which Vietnam and the countries bordering the East Sea are parties.”

“Therefore, all activities of other countries in Vietnam’s sea areas must comply with the relevant regulations of the 1982 UNCLOS and Vietnam’s law,” Hang said.

The spokeswomen underscored that Vietnam’s unwavering policy is to resolutely and persistently struggle with any actions that infringe its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its sea areas by peaceful means in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

“Vietnam highly attributes great importance to peace, friendship, cooperation, goodwill and is ready to settle disputes, disagreements by peaceful measures,” the spokesperson said.

In the recent past, the country has synchronously taken peaceful measures to deal with issues and request foreign sides to respect its sea areas as well as its rights and legitimate interests in the waters, and not to have actions that complicate the situation.

Vietnam’s authorized forces at sea have been exercising the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a peaceful manner and in accordance with law to defend the country’s waters, Hang said.