Vietnam asserts that China's installation of three beacons at some features in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago is invalid.
“Vietnam has a full legal basis and historical evidence to affirm.”
sovereignty over the Spratly Islands as well as the Paracel Islands
in accordance with international law. The installation of beacon beacons at entities in
Truong Sa archipelago without the consent of Vietnam is a violation of sovereignty
Vietnam's rights to these islands, therefore, have no legal value," said Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang in a statement today.
The statement was made by Ms. Hang after China's Ministry of Transport on May 24 announced on its official social media account the installation of at least three new beacons in the East Sea, near Ca Nham Reef. , Ba Dau and Ga Ven rocks in the Truong Sa archipelago of Vietnam.
Chinese ships form a long line at Ba Dau rock, near Sinh Ton Dong island in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago in 2021. Photo: maxes
China's Ministry of Transport argued that the move was "to ensure the safety of maritime operations". The illegal installation of buoys was carried out "recently" by the Center for Maritime Safety of the South China Sea, but Chinese officials did not specify when.
Previously, on May 10-12, the Philippine Coast Guard also released five navigational buoys in five areas in the East Sea, including Ba Dau beach in the Survival cluster of the Spratly archipelago.
"Vietnam requires relevant parties not to take actions to complicate the situation, respect Vietnam's sovereignty, respect international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of of the parties in the East Sea (DOC), preserving the environment of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea," added Ms. Hang.
Ba Dau Rock is an entity near Sinh Ton Dong island in the Truong Sa archipelago. Fishing Reef is a resource-rich traditional fishing ground in the East Sea, while Ga Ven Reef is one of seven features in the Spratlys that China has illegally built into artificial islands.
Huyen Le
