Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh
(VOVworld) - The Pentagon has confirmed that destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur made the innocent passage off Triton Island in Vietnam’s Paracel island chain which is illegally occupied by China. Spokesman Mark Wright said the US Department of Defense conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the East Sea on January 30 in waters near Tri Ton island of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. Earlier on October 27, destroyer USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island illegally built by China in the East Sea. The Obama administration repeatedly confirmed its intention to practice freedom of navigation right in any international waters permitted by international law, including the East Sea.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh over and over again confirmed Vietnam’s legal evidence and historical grounds verifying Vietnam’s indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes. He said countries in and outside the region need to show their responsibilities to maintain and foster peace, stability and security, navigational and aviation freedom in the region while fully complying with international law.