The adoption of the Law on the sea by the Vietnamese National Assembly on June 21 is a normal judicial exercise to perfect the country’s legal framework so as to facilitate its international integration and boost its cooperation with other countries for the sake of peace and stability in the region and globally. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi made this statement yesterday rejecting China’s unreasonable accusations of Vietnam’s legitimate act. Nghi said it’s more serious that China has approved the establishment of the so-called “Sansha City” that covers Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. He reaffirmed that Vietnam has an indisputable legal premise and historical evidence of its sovereignty over the islands. Nghi stressed that Vietnam resolutely rejects the unreasonable accusations by China and at the same time strongly opposes China’s establishment of the so-called “Sansha City”.

He said the mentioning of the two archipelagos in the newly passed law is the continuation of a number of provisions in Vietnam’s existing laws and  will not affect the search for basic and long-term solutions to the disputes on the East Sea. The diplomat said now as before, Vietnam advocates to settle the differences and disputes on the East Sea by peaceful means and on the basis of international laws, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

He further added that Vietnam values its relations with China and stands ready to accelerate the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.