(VOV) - Vietnam requests Taiwan and China to stop erroneous activities in the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago and the East Sea, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi.
China’s islands plan violates Vietnam’s sovereignty At the regular Foreign Ministry press briefing on May 10, in response to media questions about Taiwan and China’s activities in Truong Sa area, Mr Nghi said Vietnam protests Taiwanese officials’ visit to Ba Binh Island of the Truong Sa Archipelago and their statement of sovereignty over the island. This act has violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Truong Sa Archipelago, caused tension and complicated the situation in the East Sea. Vietnam asks Taiwan to stop all erroneous activities.
In reply to a media question about China’s increased oil and gas exploitation, including putting oil-rig 981 into operation in the East Sea, Mr Nghi said, “We are very interested in this information. Countries operating in the East Sea must abide by international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and must not violate the national sovereignty and jurisdiction rights of other nations to ensure peace and stability in the East Sea.”
In response to comments on wrong information concerning Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) on Google Maps, FM spokesperson Nghi said Vietnam affirms its undisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. This information does not indicate that our stance is erroneous and invalid.
Vietnam is ready to provide accurate documents, maps and data affirming its sovereignty, he said.
Recently, the Vietnam Foreign Ministry met Google representatives to put forth Vietnam’s viewpoints on key words on Google Maps that misrepresented Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, and the mistakes have been corrected.