Vietnam protests China's installation of ship identification station in Hoang Sa

A Foreign Ministry spokesman protested China's installation of an automatic vessel identification station in the Paracel Islands, calling it a violation of sovereignty.

"China's installation and use of two automatic vessel identification stations at Bac Reef and Bong Bay Reef in Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago is a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said today.

Ms. Hang made the statement in response to a question from VnExpress, asking for comment on the information that China deployed two satellite positioning stations in mid-September at Da Bac and Da Bong Bay in Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago. Chinese state television at the time brazenly said that the move would "overcome blind spots in the country's maritime identification system" in the region.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang. Photo: BNG

"All activities on the Hoang Sa archipelago without Vietnam's permission are violations of Vietnam's sovereignty and are completely invalid. Vietnam demands that China fully respect Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago and not repeat similar violations," Ms. Hang added.

The Paracel Islands were occupied by China by force since 1974. This country established the so-called "Sansha City", headquartered on Phu Lam Island since July 2012, with the aim of taking over the archipelagos in the East Sea, including Truong Sa and Hoang Sa under Vietnam's sovereignty.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman has repeatedly affirmed that Vietnam has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, in accordance with international law.

The East Sea area with the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. Graphics: CSIS

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