Viet Nam protests China’s military drills in East Sea

VGP – China’s military drills around Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands violate the Southeast Asian country’s sovereignty over the archipelago and goes against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), said Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

July 02, 2020 7:05 PM GMT+7

Hang made the above statement at a press briefing on Thursday when she was asked about Viet Nam’s reaction to the Chinese military drills which are underway from July 1-5.

The drills also further complicate the situation and they are not conducive to the current process of talks on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea between ASEAN and China as well as to the maintenance of a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the East Sea, said the Spokesperson.

Hang said Viet Nam has sent a diplomatic note opposing the military exercises and urging China not to repeat the similar actions in the future.

Earlier on Monday, the Maritime Safety Administration of China’s Hainan Province announced plans to hold military drills near Viet Nam’s Paracel Islands from July 1-5./.

By Kim Anh