Vietnam always asserts the respect to the freedom of maritime and air navigation in the South China Sea, the Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. 
Vietnamese spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang. Photo: Zing
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Vietnam, on the part of the members involving in the UNCLOS, has all legal basis and historical evidences proving the sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratlys) and requires other countries to closely follow the convention to contribute to peace and security at seas and oceans worldwide, Hang emphasized.
USS McCampbell. Photo: US Navy
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In a statement, the US’s Pacific Fleet Spokesperson Rachel McMarr told Reuters that the operation was conducted to challenge excessive maritime claims.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said that the US vessel entered China’s territorial seas without permission.
