Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lê Hải Bình. — File Photo

HÀ NỘI  — Việt Nam requested China to cancel its oil drilling plan and promptly remove its Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig from the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin whose delineation is under negotiation, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lê Hải Bình.

He made the statement yesterday in reply to reporters’ queries on Việt Nam’s reaction to China sending the rig to operate in the waters off the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin on Sunday.

According to a spokesperson, the rig was located at 17 degrees 3 minutes 12 seconds latitude north and 110 degrees 4 minutes 18 seconds longitude east. The demarcation of this area is being negotiated over by Việt Nam and China.

“Việt Nam demands China not repeat such unilateral actions that complicate the situation and make pragmatic contributions to peace and stability in the East Sea,” he said.

“Việt Nam maintains and protects all of its legitimate rights and interests to the above-mentioned area through peaceful measures in tune with internal law,” he affirmed.

On Tuesday, a Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative met and handed a diplomatic note to the Hà Nội-based Chinese Embassy’s representative to protest against China’s act.

Also yesterday, Bình extended Việt Nam’s response to China switching on a lighthouse on Xubi Reef of Việt Nam’s Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

“Việt Nam requests China to immediately stop its violations of Việt Nam’s sovereignty in Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa archipelagoes, seriously observe international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and take no more actions complicating the situation in the East Sea,” he said.

“Việt Nam, once again, affirmed that the country has full legal foundations and historical evidence proving its indisputable sovereignty over the two archipelagoes,” he noted.

The diplomat said China’s aforementioned act has seriously violated Việt Nam’s sovereignty over the Trường Sa archipelago, adding that it was illegal and void.

The same day, a Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative met and handed a diplomatic note to a Chinese Embassy representative to object to the deed. — VNS