Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Lê Thị Thu Hằng

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Lê Thị Thu Hằng made the statement on March 7 in reply to reporters' questions about the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration's statement on China's military drills in the East Sea, 

“Vietnam always closely follows the developments in the East Sea (internationally known as South China sea) and exercises its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdictions at sea in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Part of the area in China’s statement belongs to the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam as defined by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982)," the spokesperson said.

Vietnam requested China to respect and not to violate the nation's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and not to take actions that complicate the situation, thereby contributing to maintaining peace, security and stability in the East Sea area. Vietnam has exchanged views with China on this issue, Hằng added.

Source: english.vov.vn/