Vietnam calls for responsible behaviour in East Sea

Thursday, 19:54, 23/02/2017

VOV.VN - On February 23, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh responded to reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s reaction to China’s construction of 20 structures on artificial islands in the East Sea which are supposed to be like warehouses for long-range surface-to-air missiles.

Binh said Vietnam will verify the information and the country has sufficient legal and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracels) archipelagoes.

Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of resolving disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means in line with international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) fully abiding by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

The official said all construction activities in the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagoes without Vietnam’s permission are illegal.

"Vietnam requests concerned parties to behave responsibly and not to take action to complicate the situation including the militarization which threaten peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea," Binh added.