Vietnam on April 6 called out China's illegal activities in its waters
and doubled down on its claims of the islands in the South China Sea.
Deputy spokesperson Pham Thu Hang made the remarks during the press
conference in Hà Nội, in response to the reports of Chinese survey ship
Haiyang Dizhi 4's entry into Vietnam's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
since last month.
"Vietnam wishes to reaffirm that our consistent position is that all
activities in the South China Sea (known in Vietnam as the East Sea)
need to strictly adhere to international law, respect the sovereignty,
sovereign rights, and jurisdiction towards our waters as established by
the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," Hang
stressed.
According to the latest updates from Vietnam's maritime law enforcement,
the Chinese vessel has left Vietnamese waters, the diplomat told the
press.
A report on the National Natural Science Foundation of China's
announcement of 33 sections/routes for frequent research ship visits,
which include locations overlapping with Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly)
archipelago, was also raised at the meeting.
The deputy spokesperson reiterated that Vietnam has full legal basis and
historical evidence to assert sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel)
and Spratly in accordance with international law, as well as to assert
sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdictions towards Vietnamese
waters in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS.
Deputy spokesperson Hang stressed: "Scientific research and survey in
the vicinity of the Spratly Islands and Vietnam's waters as established
in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS that are conducted without Vietnam's
express permission is a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty over the
Spratlys as well as Vietnam's sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the
waters here, and is therefore null and void."
Regarding China Daily's interview with Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk
Seri Anwar Ibrahim in which he calls on dialogue to resolve disputes in
the South China Sea and that the current disputes are not
"insurmountable", deputy spokesperson Hang commented that Vietnam is
consistent with its position in supporting the peaceful resolution of
disputes.
Vietnam supports countries' handling of disagreements by respecting the
lawful rights and interests of countries and by adhering to the 1982
UNCLOS and to maintain the peace, stability, and development in the
region, she said.
"With this policy, Vietnam stands ready to discuss with countries to
resolve all the issues which are historical legacies to contribute to
the stability of the region," the diplomat remarked.
Migrant deaths in Taiwan
Regarding the seven dead bodies found a week ago off Chinese Taipei's
waters that bear Vietnamese identifications, deputy spokesperson Hang
said that under the directions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
consular department and the Vietnam Economic & Culture Office in
Taipei have been working closely with Taiwan's authorities to closely
follow the case.
Support is also being extended to the families of those missing to facilitate identification processes and other arrangements.
Hang also took note of the new report where Taiwanese authorities found
illegal immigrants on a ship in its waters, also with Vietnamese
identity papers.
Vietnamese representatives in Taipei have immediately taken the
initiative to contact Chinese authorities to grasp the situation and
implement necessary protection measures, according to the deputy
spokesperson.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also working with domestic competent
authorities to clarify information to closely follow the case and to
raise people's awareness of safe and legal migration in order to prevent
future real occurrences," Hang said.
She also underlined Vietnamese Government's policy is to facilitate
safe, legal and orderly migration, while also combating illegal
migration, human smuggling and human trafficking.
Recently, Vietnam has resolutely implemented measures to prevent and
combat human trafficking and implemented the Program on Prevention and
Combating Human Trafficking in 2021-25 period with orientations to 2030
(issued in February 2021), with new solutions and missions to prevent
and combat human trafficking in all areas, according to the diplomat.
Vietnam is also making every effort to realize the goals of the
Implementation Plan of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular
Migration (GCM) in accordance with a plan issued by the Prime Minister
on March 20, 2020, in order to create a transparent migration
environment, safeguard the lawful rights and interest of migrants, and
prevent the risk of human trafficking in international migration.
The deputy spokesperson also said that Vietnam has signed on cooperation
with a number of countries and organizations, including INTERPOL, with
regards to prevention, detection, investigation and handling of human
trafficking rings in accordance with the laws.
Vietnam also stands ready to discuss and cooperate with countries to
handle many cases in a timely manner to ensure the goal of safe
migration and to prevent the risk of human trafficking for the
legitimate rights and interests of migrants.
0 coment rios: