Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaks out on recent developments in the East Sea

On July 16, 2019, answering questions from a number of domestic and foreign reporters regarding recent developments in the East Sea, Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said:

As has been repeatedly affirmed, Vietnam has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over maritime areas in the East Sea determined in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which Vietnam and other countries in the East Sea are members.

Therefore, all foreign activities in Vietnam's seas must comply with relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Vietnamese law. All foreign activities in Vietnam's seas without Vietnam's permission are invalid, violate Vietnam's seas, and violate international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Vietnam's consistent policy is to resolutely and persistently fight by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, against any act of infringement upon Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the sea areas determined in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Vietnam highly values ​​peace, friendship, cooperation, goodwill and is ready to resolve disputes and disagreements by peaceful means.

On that basis, in recent times, Vietnam has synchronously deployed peaceful measures to resolve the issue, fought to demand respect for Vietnam's waters, Vietnam's legitimate rights and interests in its waters, and refrained from actions that complicate the situation.

Vietnam's maritime authorities have been exercising sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction peacefully and in accordance with the law to protect Vietnam's waters./.