Vietnam keeps a firm stance on the friendship, stability, and peace with China and other countries without being get involved in the competition between Beijing and Washington, the Ministry of Defense has affirmed. 
A Kilo-class submarine owned by Vietnam.
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In response to the voters’ comment, the ministry affirmed that maritime issues in the East Sea, which refers to the South China Sea in Vietnamese, should be solved basing on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982, the Vietnamese law on sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and an agreement on managing sea disputes reached by Vietnam and China.
In questions sent recently to the ministry, the majority of voters raised concerns about the maritime sovereignty, expecting the ministry to take bold measures to ensure the territorial integrity.
Answering voters from the southern province of Tien Giang who expected national military buildup, the ministry said the government annually spends significant budget on weapons. As a result, naval forces, coast guards, and border guards have been equipped with advanced vessels and weaponry.
Vietnam’s military has been equipped with submarines, Gepard-class frigates, anti-ship cruise missiles, and domestically-built BPS-500 missile boats, the ministry said.
With advanced equipment, Vietnam has made different plans on keeping peace and protecting its fishermen to minimize the number of Vietnamese people in distress at sea, the ministry noted.
Maritime issues have caught public attention recently after China continued constructing platforms in Vietnam’s Paracel Islands (Hoang Sa).
