Vietnam
VN supports fight against terrorism
Viet Nam supported efforts by the international community to combat all forms of terrorism, including acts of violence and extremism, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Le Hai Binh said at a press conference in Ha Noi.
Anti-terrorism efforts needed to respect the United Nations Charter; the basic principles of international law, including independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries concerned; and guarantee safety for civilians, Binh said.
He was responding to question from the Vietnam News Agency on Viet Nam's position on the US air strike on the Syrian-based Islamic State.
Binh said only one Vietnamese worker was known to be in Syria and efforts were being made to repatriate the individual.
A question was also raised about the Chinese army's forthcoming, large-scale live-fire tests in the southern part of Hainan Island, near Viet Nam's Hoang Sa archipelago, and the impact it would have on Vietnamese fishermen in the area.
Binh replied that following the Chinese announcement this week, relevant agencies had been verifying the information and were taking precautions to protect Vietnamese fishermen operating in the national fishing grounds.
He also said China's recent move to convert submerged rocks in Viet Nam's Truong Sa archipelago, including Gac Ma Reef, into man-made islands altered the status quo and contradicted the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
Binh said all activities conducted by the parties involved in the East Sea needed to respect the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the countries involved.
He added that these activities needed to abide by international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the DOC. In general, parties should not complicate the situation with any further action.
"We hold on to the view that, in the current situation, all sides should take responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea," he said.
Binh said only one Vietnamese worker was known to be in Syria and efforts were being made to repatriate the individual.
A question was also raised about the Chinese army's forthcoming, large-scale live-fire tests in the southern part of Hainan Island, near Viet Nam's Hoang Sa archipelago, and the impact it would have on Vietnamese fishermen in the area.
Binh replied that following the Chinese announcement this week, relevant agencies had been verifying the information and were taking precautions to protect Vietnamese fishermen operating in the national fishing grounds.
He also said China's recent move to convert submerged rocks in Viet Nam's Truong Sa archipelago, including Gac Ma Reef, into man-made islands altered the status quo and contradicted the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
Binh said all activities conducted by the parties involved in the East Sea needed to respect the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the countries involved.
He added that these activities needed to abide by international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the DOC. In general, parties should not complicate the situation with any further action.
"We hold on to the view that, in the current situation, all sides should take responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea," he said.
