Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam is extremely concerned about, discontented with, and resolutely opposes the Chinese law enforcement force’s brutal behaviours towards Vietnamese fishermen and vessel operating in Việt Nam’s Hoàng Sa archipelago area, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng has said.

Hằng made the statement on Wednesday with regard to the Chinese law enforcement force’s suppression, injuring, and seizure of property of Vietnamese fishermen on fishing vessel QNg 95739 TS from central Quảng Ngãi province while the boat was operating in Việt Nam’s Hoàng Sa archipelago area on September 29.

She emphasised that the abovementioned acts by the Chinese law enforcement force had seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa archipelago, infringed international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and run counter to the common perceptions of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders about better control and management of disputes at sea.

Việt Nam is extremely concerned about, discontented with, and resolutely opposes the Chinese law enforcement force’s brutal behaviours towards the Vietnamese fishermen and fishing vessel operating in Việt Nam's Hoàng Sa archipelago area, which injured, threatened the lives, and cause property damage to the Vietnamese fishermen, the spokeswoman said.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sternly communicated with the Chinese Embassy in Hà Nội, strongly opposed the abovementioned acts by the Chinese law enforcement force, and demanded China to fully respect Việt Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa archipelago, quickly investigate and announce results to the Vietnamese side, and not repeat similar acts, Hằng added. VNS