Vietnam Registers Tonkin Gulf Maritime Boundaries with UN Under UNCLOS

 Vietnam Registers Tonkin Gulf Maritime Boundaries with UN Under UNCLOS

 UN Confirms Vietnam's Submission of Nautical Chart and Baseline Coordinates

The United Nations has officially acknowledged Vietnam's registration of its nautical chart and baseline coordinates for the Tonkin Gulf, further strengthening the country's maritime boundaries under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam's Baseline Registration at the UN

In a notification dated March 12 to UN member states, the Secretary-General confirmed that on March 7, the Government of Vietnam submitted its nautical chart and a list of geographic coordinates outlining straight baselines for its mainland territory in the Tonkin Gulf. This submission, made in accordance with Article 16(2) of UNCLOS, also defines the outer limits of Vietnam’s territorial sea in the region.

The UN website officially published Vietnam’s baseline submission details on March 14, further solidifying its legal standing under international maritime law.

Additionally, the notification highlighted that Vietnam’s official declaration on February 21, 2025, regarding the baseline used to determine the breadth of its territorial sea in the Tonkin Gulf, will be included in an upcoming edition of the UN’s "Law of the Sea Bulletin."

Vietnam’s move to register its baselines is a significant step in affirming its maritime sovereignty and ensuring compliance with UNCLOS regulations. This development is expected to contribute to regional stability and enhance legal clarity in the Tonkin Gulf.

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The 1974 event and the sovereignty over the Paracel Islands

 

In 1974, Taking advantage of an inevitable defeat of the South Vietnamese Government, China used force to grab the western part of the Paracel. From the angle of international laws, some conclusions can be made

First, China’s use of force to grab the islands and archipelagoes in the South China Sea was a serious violation of Article 2, Provision 4 of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force in international relations, especially banning the use of force to infringe upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries. The contents of this provision in the UN Charter are fundamental principles of international laws which require all member states of the United Nations including China to adhere to.

This principle was developed and specified in Resolution 2625 of the UN General Assembly dated October 24, 1970 which stipulates: “Every State has the duty to refrain from the threat or use of force to violate the existing international boundaries of another State or (the threat or use of force) as a means of solving international disputes, including territorial disputes and problems concerning frontiers of States.”

Secondly, the fact that China used force to grab the eastern part of the Paracel Islands in 1956 and then the western part in 1974 was, in it true natur, an invasion of Vietnam’s territory.

Thirdly, according to international laws, the occupation of the Paracel islands by means of force did not create evidence for China’s claim of its sovereignty over the islands and rocks they had seized by force. UN General Assembly Resolution 2625 on 24^th October 1970 clearly stipulates: “The territory of a State shall not be the object of military occupation resulting from the use of force in contravention of acquisition by another State resulting from the threat or use of force. No territory acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognized as legal.”

China’s invasion of the Paracel did not consolidate the legislation for Chinese sovereignty in the South China Sea. Such act was condemned by international communities, and China’s legal profile once employed to prove Beijing’s sovereignty of the South China Sea would undoubtedly be rejected by international courts.

In conclusion, in accordance with international laws, China’s use of force to occupy the Paracel in 1956 and 1974 seriously violated the provision of UN Charter “Inhibition of the use of force in international relations” and is described as  an “act of invasion”. Even if China continues its occupation of the Paracel for another 100 years, it will have no sovereignty over the islands. As a proverb goes: “What belongs to Cesar must be returned to Cesar”, the Paracel that belongs to Vietnam will sooner or later be returned to Vietnam. It is a historical and unchangeable fact.

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15th East Sea Conference “Luminate the Grey, Light Up the Green” opened in Ho Chi Minh City

 

On October 25, the 15th East Sea International Conference themed “Luminate the Grey, Light Up the Green” opened in Ho Chi Minh City in hybrid format, with more than 200 delegates attending in person while nearly 250 others participate via teleconferencing.

 

 

The event gathers nearly 50 speakers who are reputable experts from nearly 20 countries on different continents; nearly 70 delegates from foreign representative missions in Vietnam, including nearly 20 Ambassadors and Consuls General. Nearly 30 reporters from 21 domestic and foreign news and television agencies came to report on the Conference.

This year, the Conference marked many new points in terms of ideas and organization. For the first time, a discussion session was reserved for representatives from the Coast Guard forces of some coastal countries in the East Sea.

In addition, the Conference also upgraded a separate session of young leaders in the region to become a plenary session on the agenda. In previous years, the young leadership program in the region was designed as an activity on the sidelines of the East Sea Conference. This year, the elevating of the young leadership session to the main agenda aims to raise awareness for the next generation about the importance of peace, cooperation, respect for the rule of law and finding new angles, fresh look at a peaceful solution to the East Sea dispute.

Open, frank and comprehensive discussion

Elaborating on the theme of the conference, Acting President of Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Dr. Pham Lan Dung said that the Organising Board hopes that participants will analyse the state of play of the East Sea (also known as South China Sea) and the region, clarify the governing rules, identify policies that enhance trust and cooperation, and highlight activities that upset the rules-based order and create tensions.

“By illuminating grey areas, we hope to make the maritime domain more transparent, more tranquil,” she said.

At the same time, the conference is expected to “Light Up the Green” to shed light on the potentials of the sea and the future by promoting best practices in key areas of the green transformation, such as offshore wind energy, transformative marine technologies, research, and investments, said Dr. Dung, expressing her hope that participants will discuss how maritime capacities, such as law enforcement agencies and regional mechanisms, can contribute in a constructive manner to the development of a bluer, or greener East Sea.

Dr. Pham Lan Dung noted that promoting dialogue to preserve peace and stability has become even more urgent when confrontations and conflicts have broken out in places with geostrategic disputes in the world. This requires all responsible and peace-loving nations to engage in open and frank discussions, regardless of size, political ideology and vision, state of development or even geographical location to ask seriously: Why do these conflicts happen? What lessons can be learned from best practices to increase understanding, find ways to promote peace and stability, and prevent costly lessons?

"Geographically, at the heart of the Indo-Pacific, the East Sea has been and continues to be a testament to our ability to promote dialogue and cooperation, uphold the rule of law, promote good practices and prevent bad precedents," Acting Director of the Diplomatic Academy Pham Lan Dung emphasized.

Respect and comply with UNCLOS

In his key speech at the opening session, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet said that over the past 15 years, the East Sea Conference series has provided an open, candid, friendly environment for regional and international experts to come together to advance mutual understanding, and narrow differences.

The Deputy Foreign Minister said he hopes that in the next 15 years, the dialogue will further evolve into a key region-wide maritime security forum, one that is open, inclusive and innovative in nature, a meeting point and hub of interests spanning from the “Indo” to the “Pacific” and beyond.

Deputy Foreign Minister Viet held that the global center of gravity continues to shift toward the Indo-Pacific, which is becoming the “Epicentrum” of global growth and a key locomotive for global recovery and future prosperity.

But this future cannot be guaranteed without sustained peace and stability, including in the regional maritime domain, he stressed.

He quoted UN Secretary-General Guterres as saying that strategic rivalries are creating “great divides” and “a great fracture”. Conflicts are breaking out in many regions, from Europe to the Middle East, he noted, adding that the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the maritime domain, is certainly not immune from risks of confrontations and conflicts.

The Deputy Foreign Minister underlined the need to constantly screen the maritime domain of potential dangers, to review existing cooperation mechanisms to address emerging challenges, and to act together to preempt those threats.

He said that in the past 15 years, the East Sea situation has grown increasingly complicated. At the same time, this is a region of tremendous opportunities. The recent agreement on biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the BBNJ Agreement, of which Vietnam is among first signatories, has shown the common interests related to the seas far outweigh differences, said the Deputy Foreign Minister.

Therefore, the “Light up the Green” part in the conference’s theme this year will allow participants to explore those opportunities, and turn them into specific and concrete cooperation activities, said Deputy Foreign Minister Viet, stressing the critical need for respecting and upholding international law of the sea, as reflected in the 1928 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),

The Deputy Foreign Minister also highlighted the efforts by Vietnam and ASEAN countries in securing a stable and lawful regional order, including in the maritime domain.

“We are committed to the effective operationalisation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the recently launched ASEAN Maritime Outlook – a strategic guidance for ASEAN member states to expand their maritime cooperation regionally and internationally. We are open to new initiatives aimed at our common goals, through bilateral, multilateral or new frameworks,” he stated.

15th East Sea Conference “Luminate the Grey, Light Up the Green” opened in Ho Chi Minh City: An overview of a panel discussion of the 15th East Sea International Conference. (Photo: VNA)

Running through October 26, the conference comprises eight sessions covering diverse topics, such as: (i) East Sea: The past 15 years; (ii) Big Countries and Big Responsibilities: Cooperation and coexistence in the context of increasing competition?; (iii) Multilateral approach to the East Sea: A new trend?; (iv) A legal framework for legal battles? (v) The Coast Guard's role in enhancing cooperation in the East Sea; (vi) Decision time: Traditional energy or renewable energy; (vii) Essential infrastructure: New strategic implications of technology; (viii) Voice of the next generation.

.Besides, many senior officials, including MP, Minister of State at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for the Indo-Pacific region Anne-Marie Trevelyan, and European External Action Service (EEAS) Acting Managing Director for Asia and Pacific, deliver special speeches at the Conference.

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PM's trip to UNGA, US, Brazil: To convey message of Vietnam's determination and global solidarity

 

 In the days of September (from September 17 to 26), far from Vietnam halfway around the world, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation had a series of exciting multilateral and bilateral activities at the biggest multilateral organization on the planet - the United Nations, and during the stay in the United States and official visit to Brazil.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's trip once again demonstrated the image of Vietnam as a peace-loving, positive, and responsible member through effective and substantive contributions in all aspects at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations.

With the Prime Minister’s trip to the United States, it took place immediately after President Joe Biden's state visit to Vietnam and the elevating relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, security and sustainable development.

Therefore, the visit is important in concretizing and implementing agreements and commitments reached between leaders of the two countries.

With the Prime Minister’s official visit to Brazil, the trip is also extremely important in promoting bilateral cooperation in the future, and is a milestone in opening a new period of cooperation with Brazil.

Long lasting motivation

The new momentum of the relationship of Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, security and sustainable development can be clearly seen at every stop of the delegation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the United States. Certainly, the US side could see a Government of "action", a great determination of Vietnam to strongly and substantially develop new heights in the relationship that the two sides have just established.

"The Vietnam-US relationship is very unique and very special"; “making technology, innovation and real investment become important new pillars of the comprehensive strategic partnership”; "Let's take Vietnam as a base in Southeast Asia"; "Let's cooperate together, win together, benefit together in the spirit of harmonious benefits and shared risks", "come to Vietnam to witness Vietnam's innovation", "your success is also our success and vice versa", etc. Such strong and impressive messages were filled at every meeting of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with leaders, officials, politicians, businesses, scholars, students, from San Francisco to Washington D.C or New York. So, people clearly feel a new spirit, rising in the Vietnam - United States Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Proposals and measures to promote bilateral cooperation "worthy" of the new framework of relations were highlighted very specifically by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Accordingly, Vietnam identifies economic - trade - investment cooperation as the foundation, the "long lasting engine" of the comprehensive strategic partnership with the US.

To effectively implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the United States soon recognize Vietnam's Market Economy status and encourage US high-tech enterprises doing business in Vietnam. Besides, the two sides need to create breakthroughs in science and technology cooperation, innovation, education and training; At the same time, the two sides strongly promote cooperation in combating climate change, green growth, and developing renewable energy...

“The Vietnamese Government is ready to open its doors to welcome all businesses to invest and do business in a legal, stable and effective manner for the strength and prosperity of each country, prosperity and happiness of the people... This is the best way to heal wounds, put the past behind, look forward to the future," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized at the Vietnam-US Business Forum.

On the US side, in the discussions with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, US leaders, politicians and businesses all expressed their support for the further development of Vietnam-US relations, at the same time, believing that Vietnam becomes a country with an increasingly important role and voice in the region.

According to US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, American businesses will invest heavily in Vietnam in the near future. A specific example, during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Silicon Valley, Vice President of Meta Group Joel Kaplann emphasized the Vietnamese market is large with great potential and wishes to expand investment in the S-shaped land.

Symbol of reconsiliation

In New York, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attended a multilateral event of extremely important significance which is the high-level general debate of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly with the theme “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Acceleratingactionon the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towardspeace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all”.

Within the framework of the high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh participated many important activities such as attending and speaking at the high-level general debate of the General Assembly; attended and delivered speech at UN Summit on global issues such as climate change, pandemic response, and holding many bilateral meetings to convey consistent policies of the Party, State and Government of Vietnam to international friends about a Vietnam of peace, cooperation and integration, bringing Vietnam's relations with the UN and other countries to a new level.

“We are inching ever closer to a Great Fracture”, as a comment made by Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the Opening Session of the UN General Assembly, the Vietnam-US relationship was evoked by US President Joe Biden as a symbol of reconciliation. a model to overcome the past, for peace and the future.

It seems that no one could have imagined that one day the President of the United States would stand next to the Vietnamese Party General Secretary in Hanoi and declare his commitments to promoting cooperative relations at the highest level. This is a testament to the fact that countries can overcome the past, from rivals to partners in solving challenges and healing wounds.

For Vietnam, cooperation with the UN always holds an important position in the foreign policy of the Party and State in general and in multilateral diplomacy in particular. Since Vietnam became an official member of the UN in 1977, Vietnam - UN cooperation has continuously developed, bringing many meanings and practical results to both sides.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with President of the 78th United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis in New York on September 20 (local time). (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong)

On the journey of participating and cooperating with the UN, Vietnam has increasingly shown itself to be an active, proactive, responsible and effective member, being highly appreciated by the international community and holding great expectations.

Vietnam handles relationships in a balanced way, maintains a peaceful and stable environment and strengthens the country's position, and is trusted by international friends to be elected to many important positions and agencies. Vietnam currently holds many important responsibilities, notably being a member of the UN Human Rights Council (term 2023-2025), and continues to run for a number of positions and agencies of the UN.

Milestone promoting relations with Brazil

In Brazil, at the end of a long trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had meetings and discussions with President Lula da Silva and other senior leaders of Brazil, with political parties, social organizations, some state authorities and businesses to help the two sides have new directions in promoting cooperative relations, deepening the Comprehensive Partnership, identifying specific projects and areas of cooperation, thereby bringing the relationship between the two countries into depth, substance and effectiveness.

Regarding the prospects of cooperation between Vietnam and Brazil, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Pham Thi Kim Hoa said that the potential for economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries is huge. Brazil is also the gateway for Vietnam to enter Latin American markets, just like Vietnam is the gateway for Brazil to enter ASEAN and Asian countries.

As Vietnam's largest trading partner in Latin America, Brazil is the largest economy in this region and always plays an important role in regional cooperation and association organizations. Brazil is also a member of the G20, BRICS and MECOSUR groups.

Combating climate change, developing new energy sources, digital transformation, ensuring energy and food security, regional integration and security, sustainable growth and equality in international relations, etc. These are all areas where the similarity of views between the two sides is very extensive.

Vietnam, Brazil issued Joint Communiqué on Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Brazil: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Photo: VNA)

According to Ambassador Pham Thi Kim Hoa, the two sides can learn from each other, help each other and rely on each other to solve related problems and take advantage of opportunities for mutual development. Vietnam is moving towards negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a group of countries in Latin America and Brazil's support is very important in the negotiation process.

In a policy speech at Georgetown University, USA, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the world is facing two choices: passively accepting challenges and risks at a very high price, or proactively adapting to, taking advantage of opportunities, solving challenges, and taking peace, stability and development cooperation as goals, the UN Charter and international law as the foundation, and dialogue and collaboration as tools. In particular, Vietnam chooses the second choice and hopes its partners also choose it, Prime Minister Chinh emphasized.

Perhaps, that is also the message throughout the Prime Minister's multilateral and bilateral trip to the largest multilateral organization on the planet and important partners of Vietnam.

 

 

 

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US public opinion positive about PM Phạm Minh Chính’s visit

 

Overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs are delighted about the upgrade of the relations between Việt Nam and the US, which they believe will bring opportunities for connections and cooperation between businesses of the two countries.

Public opinion in the US is generally positive about Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s trip to the US from September 17-23 to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The visit took place immediately after the upgrading of the Việt Nam – US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of US President Joe Biden’s official visit to Việt Nam.

Speaking at a ceremony on September 19 to mark the 78th National Day of Việt Nam and celebrate the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development between Việt Nam and the US at the US Institute of Peace (USIP), Todd Frantz, former assistant of US Defence Attaché to Việt Nam in 2007-10, said the relationship between the two countries has come a long way and continues to evolve and the US looks forward to a cooperative and peaceful relationship in the future.

Frantz said the two sides have achieved significant progresses, he said, noting that leaders of both countries have done their job well and the two nations are truly cooperating effectively with each other.

Overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs are delighted about the upgrade of the relations between Việt Nam and the US, which they believe will bring opportunities for connections and cooperation between businesses of the two countries.

Trung Trinh, CEO of the US-Việt Nam Business Council in Washington DC, expressed great excitement about PM Chính’s visit to the US, saying that this demonstrates the high determination of the Vietnamese Party and State in building connectivity with the US.

It is a concrete step to turn the cooperation potential into reality, he stressed, adding that the US-Việt Nam Business Council has outlined a specific plan, which includes organising a forum on high-tech agriculture and agricultural exports on October 16, aiming to connect US companies specialising hi-tech agriculture and Vietnamese partners.

During the visit, PM Chính delivered a policy speech at Georgetown University in Washington DC on September 19, which received praises from local political figures, scholars, and students.

David Shear, former US Ambassador to Việt Nam, said PM Chính’s speech was very comprehensive and strategic, noting that the PM’s visit to the US is the first high-level visit after the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership, and this is an important step forward in the US-Việt Nam relationship.

He expressed a hope that the two governments and people will strive to complete PM Chính’s plan.

Vietnamese students studying at Georgetown University said they are impressed by the upgrading of the relations between the two nations. They expressed their belief that Việt Nam and the US will continue to make new strides and bring benefits to both sides. 

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Vietnam demands Taiwan cancel live fire drills in Spratlys

 

By holding live fire drills near Itu Aba Island, Taiwan is acting in direct violation of Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over the Spratly Archipelago, the foreign ministry stated Thursday.

"The fact that Taiwan performs live fire drills in sea regions around Itu Aba, part of Vietnam’s Spratly Islands, is in serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the islands, threatening peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as escalating tensions and complicating the situation in the South China Sea," spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said in a press release.

"Vietnam resolutely opposes the act and demands Taiwan to cancel the illegal aforementioned activity, and not repeat similar violations in the future," she added.

"Vietnam has full legal basis, backed by historical evidence, to establish its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands."

Itu Aba, called Ba Binh in Vietnamese, is the largest naturally occurring island and land mass within the Spratly Islands, which are located within Vietnam's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Taiwan illegally occupies the island and has deployed military forces at the location.

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Vietnam opposes China's new national map containing nine-dash line

 

China's new "2023 standard map" is a violation of sovereignty as it includes Vietnam's Spratly and Paracel islands within its infamous U-shaped line, the foreign affairs ministry has announced.

"The fact that China’s Ministry of Natural Resources has issued what’s called the '2023 standard map,' with the inclusion of Vietnam’s Paracel and Spratly islands as well as the dotted line, has violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the islands, as well as its sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction rights over Vietnam’s sea regions as determined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said in a press release issued Thursday.

China's sovereignty and sea claims based on the dotted line, as shown on the "standard map," therefore holds no value and violates international law, especially the UNCLOS, she added.

Vietnam continues to strongly affirm its consistent stance regarding sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands as well as resolutely opposing all of China’s claims on the South China Sea based on the dotted line, she said.

China has also engaged in artificial island-building and militarization in the East Sea with illegal construction on seven reefs of Vietnam's Spratly Islands.

Several other Southeast Asian countries have also rejected China's new map.

"Malaysia does not recognize China's claims in the South China Sea, as outlined in the 'China Standard Map 2023 Edition' which covers Malaysia's maritime area," Malaysia's foreign ministry said in a statement, as cited by AFP.

The map included claims in the sea which overlap with Malaysia's exclusive economic zone off the coast of the Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island.

The Philippines on Thursday asked China "to act responsibly and abide by its obligations" under international law and a 2016 arbitral ruling that had declared the line had no legal grounds.

"This latest attempt to legitimise China's purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law," the Philippine Foreign Ministry said, as cited by Reuters.

The new map was different to a version submitted by China to the United Nations in 2009 that included its so-called "nine-dash line." It had a 10-dash line that is similar to a 1948 map of China, and another map published by China in 2013.

The "standard map" that China’s natural resources ministry issued also includes disputed territories with India on the Himalayas. India, through diplomatic channels, has strongly opposed the inclusion, according to the spokesman of India’s Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi. New Delhi said two regions shown on the map, Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin, belong to India.

Asked about the latest map at a regular briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that "China's position on the South China Sea issue has always been clear."

"We hope that relevant parties can view this in an objective and rational manner," Wang said, as cited by Reuters.

The U-shaped line drawn up by China claims most of the South China Sea. The line has been internationally condemned and rejected for violating international law.

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Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia reject China's latest South China Sea map

 

The Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have rejected as baseless a map released by China that denotes its claims to sovereignty including in the South China Sea and which Beijing said on Thursday should be viewed rationally and objectively.

China released the map on Monday of its famous U-shaped line covering about 90% of the South China Sea, a source of many of the disputes in one of the world's most contested waterways, where more than $3 trillion of trade passes each year.

The Philippines called on China on Thursday "to act responsibly and abide by its obligations" under international law and a 2016 arbitral ruling that had declared the line had no legal grounds.

Malaysia said it had filed a diplomatic protest over the map.

China says the line is based on its historic maps. It was not immediately clear whether the latest map denotes any new claim to territory.

China's U-shaped line loops as far as 1,500 km (932 miles) south of its Hainan island and cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

"This latest attempt to legitimise China's purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law," the Philippine Foreign Ministry said.

Its Malaysian counterpart in a statement said the new map holds no binding authority over Malaysia, which "also views the South China Sea as a complex and sensitive matter".

The map was different to a narrower version submitted by China to the United Nations in 2009 of the South China Sea that included its so-called "nine-dash line".

The latest map was of a broader geographical area and had a line with 10 dashes that included democratically governed Taiwan, similar to a 1948 map of China. China also published a map with a 10th dash in 2013.

Asked about the latest map, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu said Taiwan was "absolutely not a part of the People's Republic of China".

"No matter how the Chinese government twists its position on Taiwan's sovereignty, it cannot change the objective fact of our country's existence," he told a press briefing.

China is currently having a "national map awareness publicity week", state broadcaster China Central Television reported on Tuesday.

Asked why China had released the latest map with 10 dashes compared to one with nine dashes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing had been unambiguous about its territory.

"China's position on the South China Sea issue has always been clear. The competent authorities of China regularly update and release various types of standard maps every year," he told a regular briefing.

"We hope that relevant parties can view this in an objective and rational manner."

Late on Thursday, Vietnam's foreign ministry said China's claims based on the map have no value and violate Vietnamese and international laws.

Vietnam "resolutely rejects any claims in the East Sea by China that are based on the dashed line," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said in a statement, referring to the South China Sea.

Separately, Hang said Vietnamese authorities are seeking to clarify an allegation by Vietnamese fishermen that a Chinese vessel attacked their fishing boat with water canon earlier this week in the South China Sea, injuring two of them.

"Vietnam opposes the use of force against Vietnamese fishing boats operating normally at sea," she said in a statement sent to Reuters.

India said on Tuesday said it had lodged a strong protest with China over a new map that lays claim to India's territory, the latest irritant in testy ties between the Asian giants.

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China asked to respect Vietnamese sovereignty over Hoang Sa

 

China’s action of bringing part of Hoang Sa, known internationally as the Paracel Islands, into the area of military exercises taking place in the East Sea from July 29 to August 2 has seriously violated Vietnamese sovereignty over the archipelago.

Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, made the statement in response to queries about the country’s reaction to Chinese military exercises coveing part of the Paracel Islands under the nation’s sovereignty at the Ministry’s routine press briefing in Hanoi on August 3.

“This action went against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), complicated the situation, and was not conducive to the current negotiation process between China and ASEAN on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and the maintenance of a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the East Sea.

Vietnam resolutely opposes and asks China to respect Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and not repeat similar violations,” Hang said.

This comes after China's Maritime Safety Administration announced that the country's military conducted a large military exercise in the East Sea from July 29 to August 2.

The exercise area stretches from Hainan Island to part of the East Sea, including part of the Vietnamese Hoang Sa archipelago. During the exercise, China banned ships from entering the exercise area.

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Vietnam opposes China's illegal drills at Paracel Islands

 

Vietnam has requested that China stop all acts that violate Vietnam’s sovereignty, including military drills at the Paracel Islands.

"China’s inclusion of part of the Paracel Islands in a military drill area in the East Sea from July 29 to August 2 seriously infringed on Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago," saidspokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang at a press conference on Thursday.

Hang said the act went against the spirit of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and complicated the situation and was not conducive to the ongoing negotiations between China and ASEAN on the Code of Conduct between Parties in the South China Sea (COC) and the maintenance of a peaceful, stable and cooperation in the East Sea.

"Vietnam resolutely opposes [the drills] and asks China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and avoid the repeat of similar violations."

Chinese authorities last week forbade vessels from entering a sea region to the northeast of the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, including parts of Vietnam’s Paracel Islands, from July 27 to August 2, for a military drill.

China has been illegally occupying the Paracel Islands since 1974. Vietnam has multiple times affirmed that it has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands in accordance with international law.

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Vietnam asks the Philippines to strictly handle case involving torn Vietnamese flag

 

The Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reacted to the recent organised protest held in front of the Vietnamese Embassy in Manila by a group of Filipinos who used the occasion to tear Vietnamese flag.

The act of damaging the national flag of Vietnam is an insult to the feelings of the Vietnamese people and must be strongly condemned, said Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on August 3 in reply to reporters’ question regarding Vietnam’s response to the incident.

 The red flag with a yellow star in the centre is the sacred national flag of Vietnam, she said.

The spokesperson demanded that the Philippines handle the incident seriously, take effective measures to prevent such action which could affect the sound and growing strategic partnership between the two nations.

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Foreign ministry comments on nine-dash line issue with Barbie movie, BlackPink concert

 

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng stated that "the promotion and usage of products or publications featuring the nine dash line in Việt Nam is in violation of the laws. 

 The use of China's nine-dash line map which Việt Nam considers to be an infringement of its territory and sovereignty in relation to two significant cultural phenomena was brought up prominently in the foreign ministry's press briefing held in Hà Nội on Thursday.

The screening of the highly anticipated summer movie Barbie has been banned by the National Council for Film Appraisal and Classification for featuring scene(s) with the controversial map, while iMe Entertainment, the event organiser for the Hà Nội stop of the BlackPink World Tour 2023 at the end of July, is also in hot water over its alleged use of the map on its website.

As calls for a boycott started to rise on social media, Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports has said it is working with the event organiser and verifying the case, but the website is currently not accessible.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Phạm Thu Hằng, stated that "the promotion and usage of products or publications featuring the nine-dash line in Việt Nam is in violation of the laws."

Asked whether the concert might be cancelled over the issue, the foreign ministry spokesperson said the question will be referred to the relevant authorities.

Earlier on July 4, Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports approved the shows scheduled to take place at Hà Nội's Mỹ Đình National Stadium on July 29-30 as per the request documents filed by iMe Entertainment, based in HCM City.

Việt Nam has on multiple occasions rejected the nine-dash line map, which indicates China's unilateral, controversial, and assertive claims over much of the resource-rich East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), covering even Việt Nam's two island chains Trường Sa and Hoàng Sa as well as its continental shelf.

Việt Nam consistently stated that it has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence to assert its territory and sovereignty over the East Sea as well as the two archipelagoes.

The Hague-based international arbitration court has also in its landmark ruling, released in 2016, repudiated China's nine-dash line claims over the South China Sea under international law, a ruling that Việt Nam welcomed but China refused to recognise.

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Việt Nam’s sovereignty must be respected: Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson

 

As repeatedly affirmed, Việt Nam has full legal ground and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over Trường Sa (Spratly) and Hoàng Sa (Paracel). 

Sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over the seas of a state established in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the legitimate rights and interests of the littoral countries, including Việt Nam, must be respected.

So said Phạm Thu Hằng, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, on Saturday while commenting on a June 6 statement by a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry concerning the operation of the group of Chinese survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10.

As repeatedly affirmed, Việt Nam has full legal ground and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over Trường Sa (Spratlys) and Hoàng Sa (Paracels), she stressed, adding that the legal status of Trường Sa and its entities has been clearly defined in line with the UNCLOS 1982.

This is a manifestation of the responsible and construction spirit and a practical contribution by countries concerned to peace, stability, cooperation and the rule of law in the region, including the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea), she concluded.

Phạm Thu Hằng, who was Deputy Director of the Press Information Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Spokesperson of the ministry, was appointed Acting Director of the department and spokesperson of the ministry.

The foreign minister’s decision was presented by Deputy Foreign Minister Hà Kim Ngọc on June 8.

Hằng took over the position of the spokesperson from Lê Thị Thu Hằng, who was promoted to Deputy Foreign Minister in December 2022.

She has served in different positions at the Press Information Department for many years. From 2017 to 2020, she acted as Political Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in the US.

Hằng is the fifth spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her four female predecessors are Hồ Thể Lan, Phan Thúy Thanh, Nguyễn Phương Nga (now President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations), and Lê Thị Thu Hằng (now Deputy Foreign Minister).

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US aircraft carrier arrives in Vietnam as part of friendship tour with tension running high in South China Sea

 

 A US aircraft carrier arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on Sunday, AFP journalists saw, weeks after Hanoi protested against Chinese vessels sailing in its waters.

The USS Ronald Reagan's port call in Danang comes as the US and Vietnam celebrate the 10th anniversary of their "comprehensive partnership", with the two countries sharing increasingly close trade links, as well as concerns over China's growing strength in the region.

A Chinese survey vessel, multiple coast guard ships and fishing boats operated for several weeks in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, prompting a demand that they leave from Vietnam's foreign ministry.

The boats eventually departed in early June.

China claims most of the resource-rich waterway despite competing claims from other Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

"The visit gives that message that Vietnam is continuing to balance against China by improving its security relationship with the US, and with other outside powers," Nguyen The Phuong, a PhD candidate in maritime security at the University of New South Wales Canberra, told AFP.

The US aircraft carrier's visit follows the arrival of Indian naval ships in Danang last month, as well as a port call by Japan's largest warship in Cam Ranh, a city on the southeastern coast, earlier this week.

Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for Vietnam's foreign ministry, said earlier in the week that port calls were an "ordinary friendship exchange for peace, stability, and cooperation and development in the region and the world".

Strong bilateral ties between the US and Vietnam are key for Washington if it wants to remain the dominant power in the region, Phuong said.

"The US hopes that by sending one of their most formidable naval assets, they will have a trusted and reliable partner in Vietnam," he said.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a quick visit to Hanoi in April and made it clear he wanted to upgrade diplomatic ties.

This is the third visit by a US aircraft carrier to Vietnam after a historic port call by the USS Carl Vinson in 2018, the first time such a ship had arrived in the country since the end of the war.

The visit includes several cultural and community events, such as a US Navy band concert, a visit to an orphanage and sports matches.

 

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Vietnam demands Taiwan cancel live fire drills in Spratlys

 

By holding live fire drills near Itu Aba Island, Taiwan is acting in direct violation of Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over the Spratly Archipelago, the foreign ministry stated Thursday.

"The fact that Taiwan performs live fire drills in sea regions around Itu Aba, part of Vietnam’s Spratly Islands, is in serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the islands, threatening peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as escalating tensions and complicating the situation in the South China Sea," spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said in a press release.

"Vietnam resolutely opposes the act and demands Taiwan to cancel the illegal aforementioned activity, and not repeat similar violations in the future," she added.

"Vietnam has full legal basis, backed by historical evidence, to establish its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands."

Itu Aba, called Ba Binh in Vietnamese, is the largest naturally occurring island and land mass within the Spratly Islands, which are located within Vietnam's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Taiwan illegally occupies the island and has deployed military forces at the location.

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Việt Nam demands China withdraw survey ship, vessels from Vietnamese waters

 

Việt Nam on Thursday demanded China withdraw survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10 and the escorting flotilla of coast guard vessels and fishing vessels from Vietnamese waters.

 Việt Nam on Thursday demanded China withdraw the survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10 and its escorting flotilla of coast guard and fishing vessels from Vietnamese waters.

Deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng made the remark in response to a reporter's question on Việt Nam's reaction to recent Chinese intrusion by Chinese vessels into Việt Nam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea).

"As previously reported, the Chinese survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10, along with a number of accompanying coast guard and fishing vessels, has violated Việt Nam's EEZ, which was established in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982," Hằng said.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies have repeatedly communicated with Chinese authorities and implemented measures in accordance with international law and Vietnamese law to ensure Việt Nam's legitimate rights and interests, the deputy spokesperson stressed.

 

Việt Nam demands that relevant Chinese agencies comply with the common perceptions of the high-level leadership of the two countries, immediately end their provocative activities, withdraw the Xiang Yang Hong 10 and other coast guard and fishing vessels from Vietnamese waters, respect Việt Nam's sovereignty and jurisdictional rights, strictly abide by the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, towards the maintenance of peace, cooperation, and development in the East Sea, and contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

Earlier last week, at the 20th ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC  held in the northern province of Quảng Ninh of Việt Nam, Ambassador Vũ Hồ, Acting Head of ASEAN SOM Việt Nam, said that given the complex situation and ongoing unilateral actions that violate international law in the East Sea, the ambassador suggested that countries should combine "words with deeds" by translating political commitments into specific and appropriate actions in the field.

In such spirit, he highlighted the need to use international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a 'lodestar' for activities in the East Sea.

 

 

 

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Vietnam opposes China opening restaurant at Paracel Islands

 

 Vietnam opposes China opening a restaurant on Woody Island in the Paracels, announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday, stating that the act would be a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty.

"We stress that Vietnam has the full legal basis for, and historical evidence to affirm, sovereignty over the Paracel Islands in accordance with international law," said deputy spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang at a press conference.

Hang was responding to inquiries regarding China opening a restaurant on Woody Island, part of the Paracel archipelago, in April.

"Vietnam resolutely opposes all activities that violate its sovereignty and rights over the islands," Hang said.

The Paracel Islands, which Vietnam calls Hoang Sa, have been illegally occupied by China since 1974. Vietnam has voiced its opposition to China’s illegal activities at the East Sea multiple times.

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Việt Nam is implementing "appropriate measures" to ensure its rights in South China Sea

 

 "Việt Nam holds sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction towards the waters in the South China Sea in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," Deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng said.

Vietnamese authorities are taking appropriate measures to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Việt Nam in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea).

Deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng made the remarks on Thursday during the press briefing in Hà Nội, in response to questions over Việt Nam's reaction to reports of activities of a Chinese survey vessel operating within Việt Nam's waters in recent days.

"Việt Nam holds sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction towards the waters in the South China Sea in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," Hằng said.

For incidents that infringe upon the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Việt Nam over these waters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese authorities are implementing "appropriate measures in accordance with international and Vietnamese law to ensure the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Việt Nam."

On a related issue, with regards to the recent opening of a Hong Kong restaurant in Phú Lâm (Woody) Island of Việt Nam's Hoàng Sa (Paracel) archipelago by the Chinese authorities, Hằng said Việt Nam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel Islands accordance with international law.

"We strongly oppose any action that violates Việt Nam's sovereignty and sovereign rights over these islands," the foreign ministry's representative stressed.

On Philippine Coast Guard's installation of navigational buoys to assert sovereignty over Spratly Islands, the deputy spokesperson said that "As reiterated on numerous occasions, Việt Nam has sufficient historical ground and legal basis to assert its sovereignty over Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands in accordance with international law."

Việt Nam objects to all actions that breach the country's sovereignty and sovereign rights over the archipelago, Hằng said.

Việt Nam asks all relevant parties respect Việt Nam's sovereignty, international law, the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and to make meaningful and active contributions to the maintenance of peace and stability in the South China Sea, as well as create favourable conditions for the negotiations of the Code of Conduct (COC). 

 

 

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Vietnam opposes China's unilateral South China Sea fishing ban

 

 Vietnam took aim at China on Thursday for imposing an annual ban on fishing in a vast area of the South China Sea, calling it a violation of its sovereignty and urging Beijing not to complicate matters.

China has imposed the ban each year since 1999 and Vietnam routinely opposes it. China says the ban, which will apply from May 1 to Aug. 16, is to promote sustainable fishing and improve marine ecology.

It covers waters 12 degrees north of the equator and includes parts of Vietnam's 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as well as the Paracel islands, which the two countries have both occupied and have contested for decades.

"China's so-called fishing ban violates Vietnam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and the sovereign rights and jurisdiction in Vietnamese waters and its exclusive economic zone," Doan Khac Viet, a Vietnam's foreign ministry spokesperson told a regular news briefing.

Hoang Sa is the Vietnamese name for the Paracel Islands.

Viet called on China to respect Vietnam's sovereignty and "not to complicate the situation".

China claims more than 90% of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea via a U-shaped "nine-dash line" on its maps, which stretches deep into Southeast Asia and cuts into the EEZs of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

China has deployed hundreds of vessels to bolster its claims, some more than 1,000 km off its mainland, and has been accused by some neighbors of trying to disrupt energy exploration activities.

Last month, Reuters reported based on vessel-tracking data that a Vietnamese ship had been sent to monitor a Chinese coast guard vessel patrolling near a Russian-operated gas field in Vietnam's EEZ exclusive economic zone, one of dozens of such patrols.

 

 

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China’s fishing ban violates Vietnam’s sovereignty: Spokesman

 

Beijing’s unilateral fishing ban covers areas including Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracels).

Vietnam has protested China’s illegal fishing ban in the South China Sea.

“The so-called fishing ban infringes upon Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, its sovereignty and jurisdiction over the seas and exclusive economic zones stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982,” said Doan Khac Viet, Deputy Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said at the press conference in Hanoi today [April 20] that the ban is unilaterally issued by China.

Last week, Beijing announced a ban on fishing in four seas around China namely the South China Sea (called the East Sea by Vietnam), the East China Sea, the Bohai, and the Huanghai from May 1 to August 16.

The areas covered in the ban include Vietnam’s Hoang Sa which was seized by China.

China issued the annual fishing ban and said it would fine and arrest foreign fishermen in the waters it claims.

Vietnam requested China to respect its sovereignty over Hoang Sa, its rights and jurisdiction over these areas, and to refrain from escalating the situation and help maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, Doan Khac Viet said.

Local media quoted Carl Thayer, Emeritus Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Canberra, as saying that Vietnam is well within its international rights not only to protest China’s annual fishing ban but to ignore it altogether. 

Prof. Thayer said China first unilaterally imposed an annual ban on fishing in 1999. The ban has been renewed every year since then. It said the purpose of the ban was to allow fish stocks to regenerate 

during the spawning season because fish stocks in the South China Sea were seriously depleted due to overfishing.

According to Prof. Thayer, Chinese vessels have rammed and on occasion capsized or sunk foreign fishing vessels. Chinese officials routinely seize the fish catch, radios, navigation devices, tools, and other possessions of foreign fishing vessels. Sometimes, Chinese officials arrest Vietnamese fishermen and impose a fine (bribe) for their release. Chinese officials have also damaged fishing boats and polluted their fuel, making them unsafe.

He said Chinese maritime law enforcement authorities have violated numerous international laws such as COLREGS (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and SOLAS (Convention on Safety of Life at Sea) in their enforcement efforts.

Prof. Thayer said China’s actions in imposing an annual unilateral fishing ban run counter to the spirit of its 2018 proposal for the draft Code of Conduct.

He argued that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea enjoins parties to enter into an arrangement of a “practical nature” if they cannot resolve disputes over maritime delimitation. In other words, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, and other concerned states should have entered into an agreement – without prejudice to their sovereignty claims – to cooperate in protecting the marine environment including depleted fish stocks.

 

 

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