Vietnam protests violations of its sovereignty in Truong Sa archipelago

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang made the statement in Hanoi on Saturday in response to reporters' queries about Vietnam's reaction to recent activities by China and the Philippines at Hoai An Rock, Tri Le Reef, and Cai Vung Reef in the archipelago.

“Vietnam possesses ample legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands in accordance with international law,” Hang stated.

Vietnam also exercises sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over maritime zones established in conformity with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), she added.

She emphasized that the actions of relevant parties in deploying personnel to the features under Vietnam’s sovereignty without Vietnam’s permission constitute a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty, further complicate the situation, and run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC) and ongoing efforts to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Vietnam Sea (COC).

Vietnam requests that the relevant parties respect its sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago, refrain from actions that escalate tensions, comply with international law, earnestly implement the DOC, and contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the East Vietnam Sea.

Hang also affirmed that Vietnam remains committed to resolving territorial and sovereignty-related disputes in the East Vietnam Sea, including over the Truong Sa archipelago, through peaceful means.

The three aforementioned features are situated close to one another, collectively referred to as ‘Sandy Cay’ in English, and are located within the Thi Tu (Thitu) cluster in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.