Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on April 8 that Vietnam has consistently insisted that disputes in the East Sea be settled by peaceful measures in line with international law.
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| Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang__ Photo: vov.vn |
Hang made the statement in reply to reporters’ question about reports that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last week expressed his intention to expand his country’s presence in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) islands.
Vietnam is keeping a close watch and verifying the information, Hang said.
Vietnam has full historical evidence and legal foundation to affirm its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, she emphasized, adding that any activities conducted by other nations on the two archipelagos without Vietnam’s permission are illegal and invalid.
While seeking a long-term solution, concerned parties need to practice restraint and avoid actions that complicate the situation or expand the disputes, in line with the spirit and statements in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).-(VNS/VLLF)
