China’s ban on fishing in waters in the East Sea has violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and further complicated the East Sea situation, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson.

Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga made the statement in response to questions from the media on May 13 about China’s announcement on the management scheme of a non-fishing season in the East Sea from 12hrs on May 16 to 12hrs on August 1, 2011.

The ban was posted on China Hainan province’s Haikou Municipal Government website on May 11 titled “ Announcement on managing on fishing- off season of the year 2011 in the East sea” from May 16 12 am to Aug 1” . This ban covers some areas under Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty in the East Sea.

Ms. Nga reiterated, “Vietnam has indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos and sovereignty and jurisdiction rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in line with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“China’s unilateral execution of a fishing ban in the East Sea is a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, the country’s sovereign and jurisdiction rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), making the East Sea situation more complicated,” the spokeswoman stressed.

She said the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry had met the Chinese side to launch a strong protest over China’s announcement.

According to China’s website Zhanjiang on May 6th, a Chinese fisheries ship named Leizhou 44261 conducts patrol on the Hoang Sa archipelago waters from May 5-25.

Concerning this event, representatives of Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry have met Chinese side and emphasized that the current patrol of a Chinese fisheries administration ship in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago territorial waters was a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago.

In a recent meeting with the China counterpart on the issue, the representatives also said the patrol was causing difficulties for normal fishing activities conducted by Vietnamese fishermen in their traditional fishing ground and making the situation at sea more complicated.

The Vietnam side also confirmed that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos were an inseparable part of Vietnam’s territory. Any activity in the area without the consent of Vietnam authorities is considered as null and void.

All unilateral activities of parties in the area without the Vietnamese State’s permission were illegitimate and worthless, they said.

Source: VNA/SGGP