China urged to stop sovereignty violation in East Sea

 Vietnam has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh made the statement on May 8 while responding media questions about Vietnam's reaction to the remarks of the Chinese side saying that Vietnam has expanded large-scale sea encroachment activities on reef islands, which, it said, are being “occupied” by Vietnam. 

China’s expansion of underground reefs has seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty in the East Sea , causing deep concern among the international community, including ASEAN.

“ Once again Vietnam asks China to immediately stop such activities, seriously comply with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) without taking any further acts of complicating and extending disputes over the East Sea", Binh added.

Asked to comment on reports that the Chinese Permanent Mission to the UN recently sent diplomatic notes to other countries’ permanent missions asserting its sovereignty and relevant claims on the East Sea and describing its construction on reef islands is rightful and legitimate, the spokesman said that these points of view are inaccurate and have no whatsoever legal, historical and factual grounds. 

On April 30, the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN sent diplomatic notes to all countries’ permanent missions to the UN to reject the Chinese points of view, the official said.

VOV