The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.—VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has demanded China to immediately stop violations, withdraw all vessels from Việt Nam’s exclusive economic zone and not raise tensions.

They have also warned China not to complicate the situation nor threaten peace, stability and security in the East Sea and the region, the Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Lê Thị Thu Hằng has said.
Hằng was speaking at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hà Nội yesterday while answering reporters’ questions about Việt Nam’s reaction since the Chinese survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 returned to Việt Nam’s exclusive economic zone.
Over the past ten days, China’s survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 returned and continued infringements of Việt Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf determined by regulations of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), she said.
“Việt Nam’s competent forces at sea have continued to enforce and protect Việt Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign right, and jurisdiction in accordance with international law and the country’s law,” the spokeswoman said.
With the determination to safeguard the country’s legitimate rights and interests and contribute to regional and international peace, stability and security, Việt Nam is always willing to settle disputes via peaceful measures in line with international law, she added.
Việt Nam called on all relevant countries and the international community to make active and practical contributions to the maintenance of order, peace, and security in the region, as well as security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, while respecting the principle of obeying the law in the East Sea in conformity with international law, especially the UNCLOS, Hằng added.
While answering reporters’ queries about the first maritime exercise between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the US in the Gulf of Thailand, Hằng said the event will take place from September 2-6 under an agreement signed between ASEAN and US defence ministers in 2018. 
As a member of the ASEAN, Việt Nam will take part in these manoeuvres, she confirmed.—VNS