Vietnam asks China to respect its legitimate rights and interests at sea

Head of the Central Propaganda Department Vo Van Thuong met with a number of high-ranking Chinese officials last weekend while leading the Vietnamese delegation to the 15th theoretical seminar between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China in Guiyang City, capital of Guizhou Province, Southwest China. The seminar took place over two days, July 21 and 22.

The Head of the Central Propaganda Department frankly requested that both sides need to properly implement the common perceptions that have been reached, including the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam-China maritime issues, and resolve disagreements by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

During the meeting with Mr. Zhao Leji, member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, and talks with Mr. Huang Kunming, member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Secretariat, Head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mr. Vo Van Thuong asked China to respect Vietnam's legitimate and legal rights and interests at sea according to international law, not to negatively affect the development of relations between the two countries.

China's 12,000-ton coast guard ship No. 3901, one of the ships escorting Chinese survey ships in Vietnam's waters - Photo: CHINA COAST GUARD

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said on July 19 that China's Haiyang 8 survey ship group has violated Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the southern part of the East Sea in recent days. "This is entirely Vietnam's sea area, determined in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which Vietnam and China are both members," the spokesperson said.

Ms. Hang also expressed her hope that relevant countries and the international community will make joint efforts to contribute to protecting and maintaining common interests in maintaining order, peace and security in the East Sea region.

Vietnam has contacted China many times through different channels, handed over diplomatic notes of protest, and resolutely requested that violations immediately end, all ships be withdrawn from Vietnam's waters, and Vietnam's sovereignty and jurisdiction be respected for the sake of bilateral relations and regional stability and peace.

Vietnam's maritime authorities continue to deploy many appropriate measures to peacefully and lawfully exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction to protect Vietnam's waters, according to the spokesman.

On July 20, the US State Department issued a statement titled "China's Coercion of Oil and Gas Activities in the East Sea", expressing concern over reports of Beijing's interference in oil and gas activities in the region, including Vietnam's long-standing exploration and exploitation activities. The US "firmly opposes coercion and intimidation by any party to assert its territorial and maritime claims" and calls on China to "refrain from engaging in provocative and destabilizing activities"..