Viet Nam watches East Sea case closely

Viet Nam will keep a close watch on the process of the East Sea-related case filed by the Philippines and reserves the right to use all suitable and necessary peaceful measures to protect its rights and legal interests in the East Sea, said the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson.

Spokesperson Le Hai Binh made the statement on Saturday in response to reporters' queries regarding Viet Nam's reaction to the decision issued by Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on Thursday that it has jurisdiction to hear some territorial claims in the case filed by the Philippines over disputed areas in the East Sea, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement slamming the decision a day later.

Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Le Hai Binh

"First and foremost, I once again affirm Viet Nam's indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagos," Binh said, going on to say that as a coastal nation in the East Sea and a member of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Viet Nam has sovereignty rights and jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as designated in accordance with the Convention.

He noted that Viet Nam has presented its views on the case filed by the Philippines many times, particularly in the Foreign Ministry's statement submitted to the PCA on December 5, 2014.

The statement said Viet Nam backed the observance and full implementation of all regulations and procedures as prescribed in the UNCLOS, including the settlement of all disputes relating to the interpretation and application of the Convention via peaceful measures.

Viet Nam maintains its rights and legal interests in the East Sea, including sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagos as well as rights and interests in waters designated in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The spokesperson said Viet Nam hoped the court would interpret and apply related stipulations of the Convention in the case to issue a fair and impartial judgment.

"Viet Nam asks that the court pays special attention to Viet Nam's rights and legal interests in the East Sea," he said, adding that the country would consider its next steps to protect its national rights and interests.

VNS