Politics & Law
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| Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lê Hải Bình made the statement on Thursday in response to media questions about reports that China has almost completed the construction of more than 20 structures, which could be storage facilities for long-range surface-to-air missile on artificial islands in the East Sea. — VNA/VNS Photo |
HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam on Thursday urged "related parties" to avoid militarisation of the East Sea. It also reiterated its claim to the Trường Sa (Spratly) and Hoàng Sa (Paracels) archipelagoes, and held that all construction and reclamation projects at the two island groups without Việt Nam’s permission are illegal.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lê Hải Bình made the statement on Thursday in response to media questions about reports that China has almost completed the construction of more than 20 structures, which could be storage facilities for long-range surface-to-air missile on artificial islands in the East Sea.
”Việt Nam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence” to prove its sovereignty over the two archipelagos, Bình said. He added that Việt Nam would check the reports of Chinese construction.
Bình highlighted Việt Nam’s consistent stance on settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and with full adherence to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.
“Việt Nam urges related parties to behave in a responsible manner and refrain from taking any action that can further complicate the situation, particularly militarisation that threatens peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea,” he said. — VNS
