Vietnam rejects China's fishing ban

Pham Thu Hang, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Vietnam’s position on China’s fishing ban on the South China Sea, known in Vietnam as the East Sea, is consistent.

"Vietnam asks that China respects Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, as well as its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Vietnamese waters as provided by the UNCLOS," Hang said at a press meet on Thursday.

Previously, the rural agriculture bureau of China’s Sanya City unilaterally issued a fishing ban on certain regions of the South China Sea, including the Gulf of Tonkin, from May 1 to Aug. 16.

Vietnam asks that China respects the rights of Vietnamese fishermen legally operating within Vietnamese waters and waters outside of Vietnam’s national jurisdiction in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS.

Vietnam also asks that China avoid actions that may further complicate the situation, and contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability and rule-based order on the South China Sea, Hang said.