Defend the sovereignty

Heavy lift vessel Rolldock Storm carrying the fourth Kilo-submarine named HQ-185 Da Nang entered the Cam Ranh Port in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa on June 30.

​The Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) organised an international workshop on managing East Sea conflict from ASEAN perspective on June 26 in Jakarta, Indonesia, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, ASEAN officials and scholars on the East Sea.

​The Vietnamese Embassy in China is continuing to demand the country unconditionally return a seized Vietnamese fishing vessel, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh at a regular press conference on June 25.

A Buddhist monk recently offered 400 million VND (about 18,600 USD) for a painting recalling the bloody naval battle in Vietnam’s Gac Ma Island, the highest bid for the picture so far.

Researcher Ho Tan Phan has presented copies of rare Vietnamese royal chronicles to the National Boundary Committee under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam welcomes and supports any constructive, positive and responsible contribution by countries within and outside the region for peace and stability in the East Sea, Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Hai Binh told a regular press conference in Hanoi on June 11.

The working groups on the sea area beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tokin and cooperation in less sensitive maritime issues between Vietnam and China convened the seventh round of talks in Hanoi from June 3-4.

National Assembly deputies were discussing amendments to the Maritime Code of Vietnam and to the draft Law on the Elections of Deputies to the NA and elections for People`s Councils.

The Ba Son Shipyard under the General Department of Defence Industry on June 2 handed over two missile ships, designated M3 and M4 to the Vietnam People’s Navy.

An exhibition featuring photos on China’s artificial island-building activity at Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelagos in the East Sea is running in the Republic of Korea (RoK) from May 31 to June 15.

Vietnam demands China to immediately stop the construction currently underway on Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh said with regard to China’s erection of two lighthouses on Truong Sa islands.

Exhibits affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos are being showcased at an exhibition in central Nghe An province’s Vinh city on May 26.

The central city of Danang will host the fifth East Asian Seas Congress in November this year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced on May 25.

Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago is an integral territory of Vietnam and its waters have long been the traditional fishing grounds of Vietnamese fishermen, affirmed Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh has voiced strong protest over China’s announcement of a fishing ban in the East Sea, saying that the act violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and sovereign right and jurisdiction over the waters under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Vietnam welcomes efforts of the international community, including the US in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the East Sea, especially in backing ASEAN’s role, compliance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and efforts to soon formulate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

An exhibition featuring historical maps, documents and photographs proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos opened in the central province of Thanh Hoa on May 12.

Vietnam once again requests China to immediately end its construction and expansion on reef islands belonging to Vietnam in the East Sea, stated Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh on May 8.

Residents on Ly Son island in central Quang Ngai province commemorated sailors of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) flotilla with a traditional ceremony at An Vinh village temple on May 4.

Vietnam once again declares that the country has sufficient legal and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh on April 16.