Vietnam protests China’s establishment of the so-called Sansha city and the Chinese Central Military Commission’s official decision to form a garrison command on Phu Lam island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago on July 19 and China’s organisation of the election of the first Municipal People’s Congress of the so-called Sansha city on July 21.

On July 24, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi said: “China’s establishment of the so-called Sansha city and its implementation of the above-mentioned activities have seriously violated international law and Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, and are void.”

“China’s activities run counter to the common perception of the two countries’ leaders, violate the agreement on basic principles on the settlement of sea issues between Vietnam and China signed in October 2011, and goes against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed between ASEAN and China in 2002, thus making the situation in the East Sea more complicated.

“Vietnam resolutely opposes China’s above-mentioned activities and requests China respect Vietnam's sovereignty, immediately stop and cancel its wrongful activities, thus making practical contributions to the development of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and China as well as maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.

“The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on July 24 sent a dispatch of protest to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.”

The same day, Chairman of the People’s Committee of the central coastal city of Da Nang Van Huu Chien and Chairman of the People’s Committee of the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa Nguyen Chien Thang released a statement opposing China’s aforementioned activities.

The authorities and people of Da Nang city and Khanh Hoa province are once again deeply concerned and dissatisfied at the Chinese Central Military Commission’s official decision to form a garrison command of the so-called Sansha city on July 19 and China’s organisation of the election of the first Municipal People’s Congress of the so-called Sansha city on July 21, they said.

China’s wrongful activities cannot change the fact that the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes are inseparable part of Vietnam’s territory, they added.

Da Nang city and Khanh Hoa province strongly oppose and request China immediately stop activities violating international law and Vietnam’s law, blocking joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea and damaging the two peoples’ friendship.