Vietnam reaffirms its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung on May 16.

Mr Dung was responding to reporters’ questions after China had issued a fishing ban in several marine areas, including those of the Vietnamese sovereignty in the East Sea. The ban took effect on May 16 and will last through to August 1, 2009.

All foreign activities carried out in the two archipelagos as well as in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and its continental shelf without the consent of Vietnam are in violation of the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and legitimate jurisdiction in the East Sea, said Mr Dung.

“While seeking basic and long-term solutions to conflicts over these two archipelagos, Vietnam believes that concerned parties should observe the United Nation’s 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the East Sea and not act to complicate the situation in order to maintain peace, stability and cooperation in the region,” he said.

VietNamNet/VNA