Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Lê Thị Thu Hằng
Hằng spoke in reply to reporters’ questions about news in foreign media that China has placed missiles at structures it illegally constructed on Vietnam’s Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelago.
"Vietnam is deeply concerned about the information," said Hằng, affirming that "all militarised activities, including the installation of missiles on the Trường Sa archipelago, seriously violate the country’s sovereignty over the islands, violate the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China and infringe on the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) between ASEAN and China". "The actions cause tension and instability in the region and harm efforts to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea," she added.
“Vietnam has sufficient legal foundations and historical evidence proving its sovereignty over Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa archipelagos in line with international law,” she stressed.
"Vietnam asks China not to conduct military activities and withdraw all military equipment that it has illegally deployed in areas where Vietnam claims sovereignty," Hằng underscored.
She also requested China respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa archipelagos, and strictly abide by the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China as well as the DOC.
