VN responds to information on Chinese aerostat operation in East Sea

Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Spokesperson Hang made the point on December 5 while answering a reporter’s query on Viet Nam’s response to news saying that China deployed an aerostat to collect information on Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands of Viet Nam. 

The Spokesperson asserted that Viet Nam has full legal basis and historical evidence of sovereignty over Spratly and Paracel Islands in accordance with international laws. Viet Nam asked relevant sides to respect her sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction; comply with international laws; and make responsible and constructive contributions to maintaining security, safety, peace, and stability in the East Sea. 

Earlier, on November 24, Israel-based ImageSat International (ISI) posted a satellite image of an object in balloon shape over Mischief Reef in Spratly Islands of Viet Nam on its Twitter account. 

The Twitter account wrote that the Chinese aerostat was likely to collect news on military intelligence in the waters. 

The Spokesperson also said that Viet Nam would verify news that Chinese patrol ships entered Viet Nam’s waters late last month. 

However, Hang affirmed that Vietnamese competent forces always keep a close watch on Viet Nam’s waters in accordance with international laws and the 1982  United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.