During a regular press briefing in Hanoi on March 5, Hang responded to reporters’ question regarding China’s construction and upgrade activities on Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago, enabling the operation of military base and airport.
She reiterated Vietnam’s clear and consistent view that Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence confirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.
China’s construction work to expand the reefs and change the status quo in Truong Sa seriously violates both Vietnam’s national sovereignty and the Declaration on Conducts of Parties in the East Sea signed between China and the ASEAN. Vietnam protests and demands China to stop the wrongful acts.
Regarding China’s defense budget increase this year, the deputy spokeswoman said as a member of the United Nations Security Council and an important regional country, China is expected to contribute responsibly to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Concerning China’s launch of an English and Japanese language website on Beijing’s sovereignty over a disputed chain of islands on the East China Sea, the official noted all sides need to solve disagreements through peaceful means in line with international law to reach long-term solutions.
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