Demanding China withdraw Haiyang 8 group of ships from Vietnam's waters

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

On August 16, 2019, in response to questions from Vietnamese and foreign reporters regarding the return of the Chinese survey ship Haiyang 8 to activities violating Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang stated:

“According to information from the authorities, on August 13, 2019, the Haiyang 8 survey ship and a number of Chinese escort ships returned to activities violating Vietnam’s waters. These waters are completely under Vietnam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction, as determined by the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Vietnam has communicated with China, protesting China's repeated serious violations, demanding that China withdraw all of the above-mentioned ships from Vietnam's waters, respecting Vietnam's sovereignty, jurisdiction, and legitimate and legal rights and interests in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law.

Vietnam's functional forces continue to deploy measures to enforce sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with Vietnamese law and international law.

Vietnam also affirmed that it attaches great importance to peace, security, and the rule of law in the East Sea and its goodwill to resolve disagreements through peaceful means. It always values ​​and wishes to promote friendly relations with China for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples, and for regional and international peace, stability, and security, while resolutely and persistently protecting its legitimate and legal rights and interests.

Vietnam calls on relevant countries and the international community to actively contribute to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea, the region and the world.”./.