CHINA’S 9-LINE: Việt Nam reaffirms sovereignty over Spratly and Paracels islands

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HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has a full legal foundation and historical evidence to back up its sovereignty claims over the Trường Sa (Spratly) and Hoàng Sa (Paracel) islands and calls for all countries to respect international law.

The foreign ministry spokesperson Lê Thị Thu Hằng made the remarks during Thursday’s press briefing in response to Chinese foreign spokeswoman Hua Chunying’s series of tweets on the South China Sea (known in Việt Nam as the East Sea).

They were likely triggered by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Monday statement which called out China for illegal maritime claims and activities in the disputed waters that go against international law and especially, the 2016 ruling of a Hague-based arbitral tribunal.

The Chinese foreign spokesperson spewed out numerous erroneous claims such as Chinese people’s activities in the sea “date back to over 2,000 years ago” or that China has “lawfully recovered” the so-called Nansha and Xisha islands from Japanese occupation and “resumed exercise of sovereignty” there.

Nansha and Xisha are the names China gives to Việt Nam’s Trường Sa (Spratly) and Hoàng Sa (Paracels) archipelagos.

Việt Nam had exercised legal control over the two islands until Hoàng Sa was illegally seized and occupied by Chinese forces in 1974, while a number of geographical features in Trường Sa have also been taken by China.

“All countries have the responsibility and common interests in respecting the basic principles of international law,” Hằng said, adding that the full respect to legal order at sea and “compliance with good faith” to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) play an important role in the maintenance of peace, stability, co-operation and development in the sea.

Việt Nam’s consistent view is that UNCLOS 1982 sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and it welcomes all countries’ stances that align with this view, Hằng said.

“We expect that all countries, together with Việt Nam, will bring the fullest efforts to contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability, co-operation and development in the South China Sea, and resolve the issues via dialogues and other peaceful measures in line with international law and the aspirations of countries in the region and the international community,” the Vietnamese diplomat said.

She added that Việt Nam “has always contributed in a positive and responsible manner to this course.”

Some other ASEAN member countries who are claimants in the South China Sea dispute the same day also announced their stance regarding the latest remarks from the US.

Retno Marsudi, foreign minister of Indonesia, said countries should respect international law, including UNCLOS 1982.

Malaysia foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein also released a statement, maintaining Malaysia’s position that “all parties must work together to ensure peace, security and stability in the South China Sea,” and that matters related to the sea must be resolved peacefully based on international law.

Air links

Under the direction of Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, ministries and agencies are working with their foreign counterparts on the restoration of air transport links between Việt Nam and several Asian countries and territories, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hằng said when answering questions regarding the resumption of overseas flights with COVID-19 largely under control in Việt Nam.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she said, has informed foreign agencies in Việt Nam about plans to resume flights to Seoul (Republic of Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Taiwan (China), Guangzhou (China), Vientiane (Laos), and Phnom Penh (Cambodia) from mid-July, based on ensuring compliance with prevention measures to ensure the coronavirus does not spread in the community.

Aircraft in front of the Nội Bài international terminal in Hà Nội in mid-July. — VNS Photo Trọng Kiên

The Ministry of Transport is also holding discussions with relevant agencies in these countries and territories to reach consensus on flight and route specifics, Hằng added.

Việt Nam will prioritise people currently allowed to enter the country, including Vietnamese citizens, foreign experts, investors, business managers, and skilled workers, those entering for diplomatic and official purposes, and other special cases, she said.

All arrivals into Việt Nam must comply with medical quarantine rules.

Việt Nam has banned foreign arrivals since late March in a bid to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. — VNS