Vietnam protests China's fishing ban in the East Sea

Vietnam opposes China's unilateral fishing ban in the East Sea, resolutely rejecting this worthless decision.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Le Hai Binh. Photo: Quy Doan.

The Haikou City Government Information Center, Hainan Province, and several Chinese online newspapers reported that China has decided to ban fishing in the South China Sea from 12:00 on May 16 to 12:00 on August 1. The area stretches from 12 degrees north latitude to the sea area between Fujian Province and Guangdong Province, including the Gulf of Tonkin and Scarborough Shoal.

"Vietnam resolutely opposes and rejects this worthless decision," Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said today.

According to Mr. Le Hai Binh, Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago as well as Vietnam's legitimate rights over its sea areas determined in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Since 1999, China has unilaterally issued an annual fishing ban in the East Sea, where it claims almost complete sovereignty, despite protests from Vietnam and other countries in the region.

"This action by China has seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, violated Vietnam's legal rights and interests over its maritime zones, and gone against the spirit and text of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC)," Mr. Le Hai Binh affirmed.

China unilaterally banned fishing in the area. Graphics: Sina.

According to VNE