HCMC - Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang denied China’s claim that it started operating in the East Sea 2,000 years ago and called for other countries to respect international law.

“Vietnam has repeatedly stated it has sufficient historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, in line with international law,” Hang told the ministry’s press briefing on July 16. She was responding to inquiries about Vietnam’s reaction to her Chinese counterpart Hua Chunying’s recent statements, which were made on Twitter on July 14, claiming that “Chinese people carried out activities in the East Sea over 2,000 years ago” and “China’s sovereignty and the relevant rights and interests in the waters have been established in the long course of history, based on a solid historical and legal foundation." Hang added: “We believe that all countries have the common obligation and interest in respecting fundamental principles of international law.”