Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang

Hang made the remark at the ministry’s virtual regular press conference in response to reporters’ questions about the Chinese reconnaissance vessels and aircrafts recently spotted in the vicinity of Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

The spokeswoman said that Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to testify to its sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago in line with international law.

Any activity violating Vietnam’s sovereignty over and related rights in this archipelago is illegal and void, Hang said.

In the current regional and international context, Vietnam demands the parties concerned not take any further action complicating the situation in the East Sea, but instead make practical and active contributions to the maintenance of peace and stability in the waters while creating a favourable environment for negotiating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

With regard to China’s recent launch of a project tagging floral species in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, the spokeswoman said Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that it has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to testify to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in accordance with international law.

Any action under any form that infringes Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa as well as the country’s sovereign right and jurisdiction over its sea areas is valueless and unrecognised, and Vietnam resolutely objects to such action, she added.