VN asks Indonesia to treat Vietnamese fishing vessels, fishermen humanely

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le thi Thu Hang

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le thi Thu Hang made that statement when talking about Viet Nam’s reaction to Indonesia’s capture and destruction of Vietnamese fishing vessels at the press conference on May 9 in Ha Noi.

Hang said that: Viet Nam is deeply concerned about the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and marine forces capturing and destroying Viet Nam’s fishing vessels, which are unsuitable with the bilateral relationship and contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. 

Viet Nam has worked with the Indonesian sides many times and through different channels on the issue and asked Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and marine forces to act appropriately in line with international law, UNCLOS, and the two countries’ bilateral relations.

Viet Nam hopes to develop friendly relations and multi-faceted cooperation with Indonesia in the spirit of their strategic partnership for the benefit of both peoples, contributing to the building of a strong ASEAN Community, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

*Regarding the entry of the two U.S. naval vessels in Viet Nam’s Truong Sa archipelago, the Spokesperson said: Viet Nam has full legal foundations and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in accordance with international law.

As a coastal nation in the East Sea and a member of the UNCLOS 1982, Viet Nam supposes that all countries enjoy freedom of navigation and aviation, in accordance with the provisions of international law, especially the UNCLOS 1982.

Viet Nam calls on countries to continue making active and practical contributions to the maintenance of regional peace and stability, respect and implement related international legal obligations and laws on seas and oceans.

By Thuy Dung