Countries, organisations must respect Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty: Spokesperson

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang. Photo: VNA

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang reiterated at a routine press conference late last week, referring to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)’s website that uses a map of China showing the "nine-dash line".

Hang dismissed propaganda and popularisation of content and images infringing Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos as well as its established sovereign rights and jurisdiction over related waters in the East Sea in line with UNCLOS, saying they are all null and void.

“Vietnam requests other countries and organisations to respect its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa and the surrounding waters in the East Sea,” she said, asking for the removal or modification of such content.

Hang further said that Vietnamese Permanent Representative to the UN, World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva has discussed the matter with the WMO.

Earlier, Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on August 23 that member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are once again accelerating negotiations on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).

"If China can comply with the COC, many issues can be resolved. Freedom of navigation needs to be respected by all parties," he said.

Speaking to the press on his first anniversary as the PM, Ismail said China should also comply with UNCLOS, so that the situation improves.

He added that Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines are among countries that are directly affected by China's policies, especially in relation to the so-called "nine-dash line".

VNA