Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang (photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Pham Thu Hang told the press conference in Hanoi on Thursday: “Vietnam believes all coastal countries need to abide by the 1982 UNCLOS when drawing the baseline used to calculate the width of the territorial waters and to ensure that the baseline does not affect the lawful rights and interests of other countries, including the freedom of navigation and the freedom of passage through straits used for international maritime activities in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS."

She added: "Vietnam has been and will continue to discuss its views with China on this matter, in a spirit of friendship, understanding, and mutual respect. Vietnam asks China to respect and abide by the agreement on the delimitation of the territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin signed in 2000, as well as the 1982 UNCLOS."

Ms. Hang underlined: "Vietnam reserves its lawful rights and interests in accordance with international law as well as its position as mentioned in the statement on June 6th, 1996 issued by the Vietnamese Government relating to the statement made by the Chinese Government on May 15th 1996, which is used to calculate the width of China’s territorial waters.”

Both Vietnam and China border the Gulf of Tonkin. On December 25th, 2000, the two countries signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin, which took effect on June 30th, 2004, to delimitate each other’s territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves within the Gulf of Tonkin.