Chinese survey vessels' activities violate Viet Nam's EZ and Continental Shelf

In response to reporters’ request for comments on the remarks made by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on 17 July 2019 regarding the developments in the East Sea, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Le Thi Thu Hang underlined:

"Over the last several days, the Chinese survey ship, Haiyang Dizhi 8, and its escorts conducted activities in the Southern area of the East Sea that violated Viet Nam’s Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf as established in the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, to which Viet Nam and China are party. This area lies entirely within the Vietnamese waters.

Viet Nam has made contacts with China on multiple occasions via different channels, delivered diplomatic note to oppose China’s violations, and staunchly demanded China to stop all unlawful activities and withdraw its ships from Vietnamese waters, and to respect Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its waters. This is also in the interest of Viet Nam – China relations and regional stability and peace. Vietnamese authorities at sea have employed a range of appropriate measures to exercise Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a peaceful and lawful manner for safeguarding Vietnamese waters.

As asserted in the earlier remarks made by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam on 16 July 2019, it is Viet Nam’s consistent position to resolutely and persistently stand against any act infringing upon Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in Vietnamese waters established in the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea through peaceful means in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea.

All countries within and outside of the region share the common interest in maintaining order, peace and security in the East Sea. Therefore, in Viet Nam’s view, all relevant parties and the international community should contribute to the joint effort to protect and ensure our common interest"./.

By Ngoc Van