Statement of the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam
The Vietnamese National Assembly passed the Law of the Sea of Viet Nam on June 21, 2012. The passage of the law is a normal legislative activitiy that aims at completing the Vietnamese legal framework, serving the usage, management, protection of the country’s sea, islands and maritime development, facilitating its international integration and enhancing its cooperation with other countries for the sake of peace and stability in the region and the world.
It is regrettable that China reacted with unreasonable criticism against Viet Nam’s legitimate conduct. It is even more serious that China has approved the establishment of the so-called “Sansha City” that put Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos under its jurisdiction. Viet Nam resolutely rejects Chinese unreasonable criticism as well as strongly opposes the establishment of the so-called “Sansha City”.
It should be reiterated that Viet Nam has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.
The inscription of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spartly) archipelagos into the Law of the Sea of Viet Nam is the continuation of a number of provisions in Viet Nam’s existing laws. This is not a new matter and will not affect the seek for fundamental and long-term solutions to the disputes in the East Sea. Viet Nam consistently advocates settlement of differences and disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means and on the basis of international laws, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
Viet Nam always attaches importance to its relations with China and stands ready together with China to enhance the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership on the “16- word” guidingline and the “four good” spirit for the interests of the two peoples and for peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world./.
