Deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet (Photo: VGP)

Deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Doan Khac Viet, was speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on Thursday, responding to reports that Chinese Coast Guard ships had attacked Vietnamese fishing vessels and detained fishermen near the Hoang Sa archipelago in late September.

Viet said: "Hoang Sa belongs to Vietnam. Vietnam holds sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over the Hoang Sa archipelago and adjacent waters—a position we have repeatedly affirmed. The Chinese Coast Guard’s detention of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen in the Hoang Sa waters is a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty, infringing upon the legal and rightful interests of Vietnamese fishermen. Vietnam firmly protests and demands that China fully recognize Vietnam’s rights over the Hoang Sa archipelago, immediately release all detained Vietnamese vessels and fishermen, provide fair compensation for damages, and stop further harassment and illegal detentions in Vietnam's waters around Hoang Sa."

The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also conveyed a strong message to the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, firmly condemning these actions by Chinese law enforcement forces.

Additionally, Viet expressed Vietnam’s deep concerns over reports that China has completed infrastructure for a radar system on Tri Ton island in the Hoang Sa archipelago, stating that Vietnam strongly opposes any activities violating its sovereignty over this territory.