Vietnam opposes China's East Sea fishing ban

Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at a press meet the ban is also a violation of the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Vietnam over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Hang said Vietnam's stance on China's fishing ban is consistent, and has been reaffirmed over many years.

"Vietnam asks that China respect Vietnam's sovereignty for the Paracel Islands and Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Vietnamese waters, to refrain from over-complicating the situation and to contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability and order in the East Sea," she said.

Hang was responding to inquiries regarding the fact that Chinese authorities issued an "annual fishing ban" on four sea regions surrounding China, including the South China Sea. The ban was said to take effect from May 1 to Sept. 16.

The fishing ban on the South China Sea is said to take effect from May 1 to August 16, and would encompass an area that includes Vietnam’s Paracel Islands, which are illegally occupied by China.