Vietnam claims that China’s installation of three beacons at some locations in the Truong Sa archipelago in Vietnam is invalid.
“Vietnam has a complete legal basis and historical evidence to assert
sovereignty over the Spratly Islands as well as the Paracel Islands
in accordance with international law. The installation of beacons in entities in
Truong Sa Archipelago without Vietnam’s consent is a violation of sovereignty
Vietnam’s rights to these islands therefore have no legal validity,” Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said in a statement today.
The statement was made by Mrs. Hang after China’s Ministry of Transport on May 24 announced on its official social media account the installation of at least three new lighthouses in the East Sea near Ca Nham Reef., Ba Dau and Ga Ven rocks in the Truong Archipelago Sa from Vietnam.
Chinese ships form a long line on the Ba Dau rock near Sinh Ton Dong island in the Truong Sa archipelago, Vietnam, 2021. Photo: Maxar
China’s Ministry of Transport argued that the measure was “to ensure the safety of maritime operations”. The illegal installation of buoys was carried out “recently” by the South China Sea Maritime Safety Center, but Chinese authorities did not specify when.
Earlier, from May 10-12, the Philippine Coast Guard also launched five navigation buoys in five areas in the East Sea, including Ba Dau Beach in the Survival Cluster of the Spratly Archipelago.
“Vietnam demands that relevant parties not take measures to complicate the situation, respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, respect international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the North Sea, (DOC), preserving the environment of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea”, added Hang.
Ba Dau Rock is an entity near Sinh Ton Dong Island in the Truong Sa Archipelago. Fishing Reef is a resource-rich traditional fishing spot in the East Sea, while Ga Ven Reef is one of seven features in the Spratlys that China has illegally built on artificial islands.
Huyen Le
