Vietnam demands that China immediately stop its illegal activities.

On October 3, 2016, in response to a reporter's question asking about Vietnam's reaction to China's recent election of delegates to the 2nd National People's Congress of "Sansha City" as well as patrolling the waters of the Hoang Sa archipelago, Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Hai Binh stated:

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Le Hai Binh

“Vietnam has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. China’s organization of elections for the People’s Congress of the so-called “Sansha City” that China illegally established and its illegal patrols in the waters of the Hoang Sa archipelago have seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty. Those illegal actions cannot change the fact of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

Vietnam resolutely protests and demands that China respect Vietnam's sovereignty, immediately stop the above-mentioned illegal activities, seriously implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China.”./.

According to the Communist Party of Vietnam