Vietnam refutes illegal claims in East Sea

The spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said Vietnam has the evidence to affirm its sovereignty over (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands in accordance with international law, as well as its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its territorial waters established in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Hang made the statement on Saturday in reply to reporters' query regarding Vietnam's stance on the statement made by Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Wang Wenbin on March 14 and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs' March 17 declaration on the East Sea issue.

Wang had said that "China has historic rights in the South China Sea," in response to CCTV's question regarding Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. statement about China's "10-dash line" being not recognized by any country and any international body.

"China never claimed that the whole of the South China Sea belongs to China. The Philippine side accuses China of claiming all waters inside the dotted line as territory. It is not in line with the fact and is deliberate distortion of China's position. The Philippines should stop misleading the international community, using the South China Sea issue to instigate disputes, and counting on external forces to undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea region," the Chinese official said.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs responded later that the Philippines has long had sovereignty and exercised administrative control over various features in the South China Sea, and that China's claims to historic rights, or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction beyond the limits of the maritime entitlements provided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), "are without legal effect."

Regarding claims in the East Sea that are contrary to international law and violate Vietnam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa as well as Vietnam's sovereignty, Hang said, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its territorial waters established in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS, Vietnam's stance is always clear and consistent, and has been repeatedly asserted.

"Vietnam resolutely opposes and rejects all of these claims," she said.

Vietnam wants relevant countries to truly respect and comply with the provisions of UNCLOS 1982, and together contribute to maintaining peace and stability, and seeking long-term, fundamental solutions in the East Sea, Hang added.

Vietnam calls the South China Sea the East Sea.