Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)

Hang was replying to reporters’ questions related to news run by foreign media that China has placed missiles at sites it illegally constructed in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Hang said Vietnam has sufficient legal and historical evidence proving its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in line with international law.

Vietnam is deeply concerned about the information, said Hang, affirming that all military activities, including the installation of missiles on Truong Sa archipelago, violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over the islands, go against the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China, and infringe the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) between ASEAN and China.

She added that the actions cause tension and instability in the region and harm the efforts of nations negotiating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Hang underscored that Vietnam asks China not to conduct military activities and withdraw all military equipment that it has illegally deployed at sites under Vietnam’s sovereignty.

She also asked China to strictly abide by the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China and the DOC.