Vietnam verifying Philippine President’s order to occupy uninhabited features in East Sea

All acts of other countries in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos without Vietnam’s permissions are illegal, null and void, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

All acts of other countries in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos without Vietnam’s permissions are illegal, null and void, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. Photo by VNA

Hang made the statement on April 9 in response to reporters’ query on Vietnam’s reaction to the news saying that Philippines’ President Duterte has ordered troops to occupy all uninhabited features the Philippines claims in the East Sea and the other news saying that President Duterte might visit Thitu island which forms part of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago.

The Spokesperson stated that Vietnam is extremely caring about, monitoring and verifying the aforesaid news.

Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that the country has full historical evidence and legal backgrounds proving its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said.

She reiterated Vietnam’s consistent position of settling all disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures on the basis of international law.

Pending a basic and long-term solution to disputes, relevant parties must exercise self-restraint, avoid taking actions that may complicate the situation or expand disputes, in line with the spirit and wording of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).