Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VOV)

Speaking at a virtual press conference on Thursday, Hang asked China to end its military exercise in the East Sea in part of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

Hang says, "China’s military exercise in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the island, runs counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, complicates the situation, and undermines the COC negotiation between ASEAN and China as well as the maintenance of peace, stability, and cooperation in the region. Vietnam asks China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel)  archipelago, end and not repeat its violations which will complicate the situation in the East Sea.'

Concerning India sending warships to the East Sea for bilateral and multilateral drills and information that Vietnam will participate in the drills, Hang said, 'Vietnam’s consistent policy is that activities at sea of countries inside and outside the region need to abide by regulations of the 1982 UNCLOS, and responsibly contribute to peace, security, and order and cooperation at sea for the shared interests and aspirations of regional countries and the international community.'

In regard to Britain’s aircraft carrier ending its activities in the East Sea and other countries including Germany and India announcing that they will deploy ships to the East Sea, Hang said receiving foreign ships is normal and based on bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and other countries and Vietnamese law.