China’s military exercises in Hoang Sa violate Vietnam’s sovereignty
Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 16:00 GMT+7
China’s organization of consecutive military exercises in the waters to the north-northeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago has violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on Wednesday.
Responding to reporters’ query, the spokesperson made it clear that China’s act runs counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC) and complicates the situation, which is unfavourable for the current negotiations between China and the ASEAN on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (COC) and the maintenance of a peaceful, stable, and cooperative environment in the East Vietnam Sea.
“Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, stop and not repeat such violations,” Hang said.
