Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang told reporters in Hanoi on Thursday that all activities conducted in the two archipelagoes without Vietnam’s permission are illegal and null. Reacting to a foreign media report on June 8 that satellite image by Israeli intelligence shows China’s deployment of missiles to Phu Lam (Woody Island) which belongs to Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, Ms. Hang said: “China’s redeployment of missiles in Phu Lam island of Hoang Sa archipelago grossly violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa, escalates tensions, and threatens regional peace and stability and safety of navigation and overflights in the East Sea. Vietnam demands that China immediately end these wrongful acts and withdraw its military equipment which was illegally deployed in Hoang Sa archipelago of Vietnam.”

The spokesperson said the newly-approved Law on Cyber Security matches Vietnam’s Constitution and does not hinder the implementation of international treaties of which Vietnam is a member. Cyber security affects national security and becomes a special concern of countries and international organizations, while cross-border cyber attacks are one the rise, seriously impacting on national political and economic stability. Efforts to improve cyber security face difficulties due to a lack of legal institutions and capacity. In this context, Ms. Hang said the adoption of the Law on Cyber Security is necessary.

Spokesperson Hang also reiterated that the draft law on special administrative and economic units was aimed at creating new breakthroughs and growth momentum for the economy and taking advantage of local strengths. She added the Vietnamese State constantly fine-tunes policies and laws to better protect people’s legitimate rights and interests.