Vietnam has expressed extreme concern over China’s intention to carry out military exercises near the Gulf of Tonkin.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on Thursday shared Hanoi’s apprehension over a scheduled drill expected to be held in waters off the coasts of northern Vietnam and southern China.

The two countries have been in ongoing negotiations to clarify sovereignty over the maritime area.

Information, including the drill’s scheduled dates from August 29 to September 4, was announced by the China Maritime Safety Administration on Monday.

According to spokesperson Hang, all foreign states operating in waters under Vietnam’s jurisdiction should comply with the country’s legal regulations and international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

“Vietnam asks China to end and not repeat actions that complicate the situation in the East Vietnam Sea,” she said.

A representative of Vietnam’s foreign ministry convened a meeting with the Embassy of China in Hanoi to reaffirm the Southeast Asian nation’s stance on the situation.

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