Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago is an integral territory of Vietnam and its waters have long been the traditional fishing grounds of Vietnamese fishermen, affirmed Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh.

Answering reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s response to China’s unilateral ban on fishing in the East Sea at a regular press conference on May 21, Binh said that Vietnam will intensify management and closely monitor Vietnamese fishermen’s fishing activities in the waters of Vietnam in order to timely address arising incidents.

Mentioning to China’s large-scale construction on reef islands altering the status quo and violating Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, the spokesman confirmed that Vietnam has full legal foundations and historical evidence proving its sovereignty on Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.

All actions of parties at the area without Vietnam’s agreement are illegal and void, he added.

Vietnamese functional agencies are keeping an eye on operations in the East Sea, including the operation and position of China’s drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981.

Regarding CNN’s launch of a video capturing Chinese naval ships chasing US aircraft flying above the international waters of the East Sea, Binh said that maintaining peace, stability, aviation and maritime security and safety in the East Sea, which forms an important international maritime route and aviation corridor, is the common interest and aspiration of nations inside and outside the region.

Vietnam calls on countries concerned to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, aviation and maritime security and safety in the East Sea in a responsible and active manner, while respecting the sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction of coastal nations on the basis of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and avoiding complicating the situation, he stated.

Indonesia called to follow int’l law treating caught vessels

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman called on Indonesia to address appropriately the issue of foreign fishing ships and fishermen supposedly operating in its waters in line with international law.

At a regular press conference on May 21, spokesman Le Hai Binh said Indonesia should pay attention to the worries of countries concerned when answering a question about Indonesia destroying foreign vessels allegedly caught to fish in its waters.

Indonesia should take in the spirit of treating the vessels and fisherman kindly, Binh said.

Indonesia destroyed 41 caught foreign vessels at several sites on May 20 in a move said to stop illegal fishing in its waters.

VNA