Vietnam objects to China’s fishing ban in East Sea

On answering reporters’ query regarding China’s fishing ban on May 4, the Vietnamese foreign ministry’s spokesperson reiterated, “Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence proving its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, and legitimate rights over its waters in conformity with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 982.”

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Measures to preserve marine resources should be taken in line with the UNCLOS 1982 and should not harm sovereign rights and jurisdiction rights at sea of countries concerned, she noted.

Vietnam condemns China’s unilateral decision to ban fishing in the East Sea. She elaborated that the ban has not only violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and its legitimate rights and interests in its waters, but also violated international law including the UNCLOS 1982.

Translated by Chung Anh