Vietnam’s views on trade fraud, sea-related issues clarified

Update: 22-06-2019 | 10:24:45

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang answered reporters’ questions regarding trade frauds and sea-related issues at a regular press conference in Hanoi on June 20.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Responding to a question about some Chinese goods found to be branded as made-in-Vietnam for exports to a third country, Hang said the Vietnamese government resolutely prevents and strictly deals with trade frauds and those foreign goods that use Vietnamese brand names to export to other market

The Vietnam Customs Department is taking specific steps to prevent this activity and protect domestic production.

In reply to reporters’ questions on Vietnamese fishermen’s saving Philippine fishing boats and fishermen in the Reed Bank in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago on June 9, the official said, “Vietnam sees that all ships including fishing vessels operating at sea are responsible for abiding by international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention of the International Maritime Organization of the UN. Accordingly, vessels are responsible to support fishermen in distress at sea. Vietnamese fishing boats implemented international obligations when operating at sea as stipulated at the UNCLOS and the IMO Convention to which Vietnam is a member.”

With regard to reports that in the recent past, some Vietnamese fishing boats operating in the waters of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago were driven away and had their assets and fishing tools confiscated, the spokesperson stated that Vietnam has sufficient legal foundation and historical evidence proving to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in line with international law.

“The above-mentioned actions of China’s authorized vessels violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, infringed international law and the Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, and threatened the safety and assets of Vietnamese fishermen who were working normally in this sea area.

“Vietnam resolutely opposes the above-mentioned action of the Chinese side and demands that China strictly deal with the Chinese crew members and authorized vessels that committed the violations, pay proper compensation to the affected Vietnamese fishermen, and educate the Chinese crew members to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents,” she said.

Earlier on June 19, a representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs met a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to protest the fore said actions by the Chinese side and request China to verify the incident, properly compensate the affected Vietnamese fishermen and strictly handle the involved crew members and vessels, Hang added.

Regarding a US Coast Guard official’s statement that Washington will increase this force’s presence in the East Sea, she said as a country bordering the East Sea and a member of the 1982 UNCLOS, Vietnam’s stance is that all countries are entitled to the freedom of navigation and aviation in conformity with international law as codified in the 1982 UNCLOS.

“Vietnam requests that countries continue making positive and practical contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the region, respect and fulfill relevant legal obligations, and comply with the law while operating on sea and oceans,” she said.

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Vietnam’s views on trade fraud, sea-related issues clarified

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