VN uses peaceful measures to protect sovereignty

Mr. Tran Duy Hai - Photo: VGP/Thanh Chung

When asked about the demand of China that Viet Nam has to withdraw its vessels of marine police and fisheries surveillance force out of the area where China installed illegally the drilling rig HD-981, Mr. Hai affirmed that the position of the drilling rig is in Viet Nam’s continental shelf.

That Vietnamese vessels of marine police and fisheries surveillance force are realizing their tasks that conform with international law, he said, demanding China withdraw its drilling rig and ships out of Viet Nam’s continental shelf.

Viet Nam’s civil vessels did not hit against Chinese ships, he said, asserting that Chinese ships intentionally crashed into and caused damages to the vessels of the Viet Nam as shown in the publicized specific proof provided.

Mr. Hai affirmed that Viet Nam has full legal and historical grounds to prove its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos as well as sovereign right and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In any circumstances, Viet Nam cannot accept and resolutely protests the China’s act and demands China totally withdraw the drilling rig HD-981 as well as escort vessels from this area.

Asked about Viet Nam’s reactions after organizing the press conference on May 7, he said that Viet Nam held diplomatic meetings with China in Beijing to exchange views and deal with the issue but the Chinese side still maintains its viewpoint.

Viet Nam will use peaceful measures regulated in the Charter of the United Nations and international laws to protect its sovereignty in the East Sea.

By Thuy Dung