Vietnam dismisses China’s new maritime terms at Paracel Islands
China’s recent changes to maritime terms regarding the Paracel Islands violate Vietnam’s sovereignty and hold no value, Vietnam has asserted.
« We consider China bringing Vietnam’s Paracel Islands into the 2020 Technical Rules for the Statutory Testing of Seagoing Vessels on Domestic Voyages as a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands and not beneficial for the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea, » Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Thursday.
The East Sea is referred to internationally as the South China Sea.
China has established what it called the « Hainan-Xisha Navigation Area » in a recently changed document, the South China Morning Post reported July 31. The area is bound by two points on China’s Hainan Island and three in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa Islands, which China calls the Xisha Islands, the paper added.
China also changed its wording, calling the so-called navigation area « coastal » instead of « offshore. » It said the new changes would take effect starting August 1.
Hang said: « Vietnam’s consistent stance is that all activities concerning Vietnam’s Paracel Islands without Vietnam’s permission is a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty and holds no value. »
China had seized the Paracel Islands from South Vietnam by force in 1974, and has been illegally occupying it since. The country has also been ramping up its aggressive behavior in the South China Sea since the start of this year while other countries have had to focus on combating the Covid-19 outbreak, including announcing the establishment of the so-called « governed » administrative districts over Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) and Paracel Islands, sinking Vietnamese fishing vessels and unilaterally ordering a ban on fishing in Vietnamese sea territory.
Vietnam has repeatedly protested these acts and urged China to desist from further provocative, illegal actions.
By Viet Anh – VnExpress.net – August 6, 2020
Articles similaires / Related posts:
- Reviewing Vietnam’s ‘Struggle’ Options in the South China Sea What are Hanoi’s options to push back on Beijing ?...
- Vietnam protests China’s escalation of sovereignty violations Vietnam Thursday asked China to stop escalating tensions with actions that exacerbate violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos....
- Vietnam calls out China’s new coast guard law Vietnam has pointedly called on all countries to comply with international laws and treaties when passing maritime laws after China enacted a new coast guard law....
- Vietnam needs to bolster its ‘soft balancing’ against China Vietnam’s statements on the South China Sea at international forums reveal a subtle, defensive strategy – one that hasn’t been enough thus far....
- South China Sea : why China’s business interests in Vietnam are at stake amid nine-dash line controversies Controversies over Beijing’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea highlight how geopolitical tensions can challenge international businesses. Although the economic implications may be minimal presently, businesses should be mindful of potential risks posed by the issue in the future....