Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lê Hải Bình. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

HÀ NỘI — China’s illegal activities in the East Sea cannot change Việt Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lê Hải Bình said yesterday.
Bình made the statement while fielding queries from reporters about Chinese media coverage of Chinese plans and  construction on the two archipelagos.
China continues building and operating a number of facilities on Trường Sa, including a hospital on the Chữ Thập (Fiery Cross) Reef and a farm on Xubi (Subi) Reef. Chinese state-run shipping company COSCO also plans to launch tours to Hoàng Sa.
“Việt Nam has expressed its clear and consistent stance on this subject repeatedly. Việt Nam has indisputable sovereignty over Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa archipelagos. Illegal construction and use of facilities on Trường Sa - and the arrangement of Chinese tours to Hoàng Sa - are both serious violations of Việt Nam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos,”  Bình said.
“Việt Nam strongly objects to these activities. Việt Nam requests that China respect our sovereignty over the two archipelagos, put an immediate end to these violations, refrain from similar violations in the future, and comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). This will help maintain peace and security in the East Sea,” Bình said.

Dialogue favoured

“Việt Nam supports the settlement of all disagreements about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s nuclear issue through dialogue,” the spokesman said.
He made the remark in response to reporters’ questions about two DPRK tests of mid-range Musudan missiles on Wednesday.
Bình said Việt Nam is deeply concerned about the test launches. "They violated relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and increased tension in the region,” he said.
"Vietnam advocates efforts to maintain peace, stability and development on the Korean peninsula, as well as in the region and the world. It also supports the implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council," the spokesman added. — VNS