Countries with interests in the East Sea need to contribute to maintaining peace in the region, based on international law, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh. Photo: Quy Doan

"The East Sea plays a very important role in Southeast Asia as well as the world. Countries in and outside the region have the responsibility to contribute to maintaining and enhancing peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in this region," Mr. Binh said today in response to VnExpress's question about the information that the US is about to send patrol ships within 12 nautical miles around artificial islands illegally built by China in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.

According to the spokesman, the contributions of countries must be based on strict compliance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

The US press reported on October 8 that Washington is considering deploying warships within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands built by China in the Spratly Islands. US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Secretary of State John Kerry have scheduled to discuss the patrol with Australia in Boston, USA, earlier this week.

Officials in the Philippines also said they were informed of the patrol plans in the past few days.

For more than a year now, China has been stepping up its reclamation and construction of islands in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago. The US and other countries believe that China will establish military bases and airstrips there. Vietnam has repeatedly protested against this illegal action. In the East Sea, China has sovereignty disputes with several ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

Referring to the Philippines' concerns that China has established an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East Sea, Mr. Binh said all activities of parties in this area must respect the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the countries involved.

"These activities also need to comply with international law, in line with the spirit of the DOC, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, security, aviation safety and freedom of navigation in this region," he said.

According to VNE