WORDS ON THE STREET 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day Vietnam - Asia 2023 Smart City Summit Hanoi celebrates 15 years of administrative boundary adjustment 12th Vietnam-France decentrialized cooperation conference 31st Sea Games - Vietnam 2021 Covid-19 Pandemic
Home / Defend the sovereignty
Vietnam reacts to Philippine President's plan to visit Thitu Island
Translated by Tu Anh 15:54, 2017/04/10
Vietnam is verifying information that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered troops to occupy uninhabited islands and shoals that the Philippines claims in the East Sea, the Vietnamese reference for the flashpoint South China Sea.
 

Vietnam is verifying information that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered troops to occupy uninhabited islands and shoals that the Philippines claims in the East Sea, the Vietnamese reference for the flashpoint South China Sea.

An aerial photo shows Thitu Island, part of the disputed Spratly group of islands, in the East Sea, the Vietnamese reference for the South China Sea. Photo: AFP
An aerial photo shows Thitu Island, part of the disputed Spratly group of islands, in the East Sea, the Vietnamese reference for the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

Also in a statement on Thursday, Duterte said he might visit Thitu (Pagasa) Island in the Spartly Archipelago, over which Vietnam claims sovereignty, on June 12 (the Philippines' Independence Day).

Le Thi Thu Hang, Vietnam’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a statement Sunday that Vietnam has sufficient evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Spartlys and the Paracel archipelago, another island chain in the Eat Sea.

Without permission from Vietnam, any action by other countries on the two island chains is illegal and invalid, she said.

Hang also stressed that Vietnam wants to settle all disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means in line with international law, urging parties concerned to refrain from actions that could further complicate the status quo in the already troubled waters. 

China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam contest all or parts of the East Sea. This has led to confrontations between China and some of its neighbors over the strategic trade route.

On Friday, Philippine defense and military officials sought to clarify their president's comments.

The Philippines will upgrade existing facilities on its inhabited islands and reefs in the South China Sea and not occupy new territories, adhering to a 2002 informal code in the disputed waters, they said.

"The president's order was very crystal clear. Occupy only the existing areas that we claim," a navy commander, privy to development plans in the South China Sea, told Reuters on Friday.

"The Philippines is not allowed to do that, occupy new territories in the Spratly, based on the 2002 agreement," said the navy official.

Other news
19:52, 2025/01/19
President and spouse join overseas Vietnamese celebrating tradition ahead of Tet
The traditional carp release ceremony, a ritual marking the transition from the old year to the new, is an important part of the Lunar New Year celebrations in Vietnam.
17:01, 2025/01/02
Eight Vietnamese ready for UN peacekeeping
Vietnam continues to demonstrate its active participation in the pursuit of world peace by sending eight officers to peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic and South Sudan.
18:15, 2024/12/19
Highlights of Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024
A display of defense innovations at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024.
20:04, 2024/12/03
Vietnamese Pho continues to spread its international reach
Pho has followed Vietnamese people around the globe as a traditional dish loved by many foreigners, contributing to honoring the culinary culture of the “S-shaped country”.
17:10, 2024/10/25
Hanoi students honored for creative logo celebrating German-Vietnamese ties
The red, yellow and black logo designed by two students from Hanoi has won the logo design competition to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam.
10:44, 2024/10/06
Vietnam condemns violence by Chinese authorities in Hoang Sa
Vietnam expresses its discontent and vehement objection to the brutal actions of Chinese law enforcement authorities in the Hoang Sa archipelago, which have resulted in Vietnamese fishermen being injured, their lives threatened and their property damaged.