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 reasserts sovereignty over South China Sea as China deploys airship to reef
Minh Anh 11:11, 2019/12/06
Vietnam has sufficient legal ground and historical evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagoes in line with international law, a Vietnamese spokesperson has stated.

Vietnam has reasserted its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands in the South China Sea after China reportedly deployed a Zeppelin-like airship to Mischief Reef in the disputed sea.

The aircraft, technically known as an aerostat, appears to be intended to boost China’s reconnaissance capabilities in the hotly disputed Spratly Islands, according to a November 24 tweet by Israel-based ImageSat International.

 A screenshot of the tweet of ImageSat International

“For the first time, China’s aerostat, probably for military intelligence-gathering purposes, seen by ISI at Mischief Reef. The use of aerostat allows China a continuous situational awareness in this resource-rich region,” said the tweet by the company, which provides satellite information to intelligence and defense customers.

The aerostat adds to ground- and ship-based radar and reconnaissance flights by China to monitor and seek to control military activity in the area by other countries, especially the United States, AP reported.

Vietnam has “sufficient legal ground and historical evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagoes in line with international law,” Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular press meeting on Thursday.

 Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: MOFA

Hang repeated the request that related parties respect the sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction of Vietnam, strictly abide by international law, and contribute to security and stability in the South China Sea, to which Vietnam refers as the East Sea.

In response to questions over the appearance of China Marine Surveillance ships in Vietnam’s continental shelf late in November, the spokesperson said Vietnam’s authorities will work to verify the information.

She affirmed that Vietnamese authorities keep close watch of activities in Vietnamese waters as established according to international law and the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

“All activities in Vietnamese waters must comply with the UNCLOS 1982 and Vietnamese regulations,” Hang said.

RELATED NEWS
TAG: Vietnam China South China Sea Mischief Reef airship
Other news
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.
19:03, 2024/09/14
Hanoi set to pilot centralized government services
The centralized building and those of its branches for government services would be equipped with the latest facilities and technologies.
15:15, 2024/09/02
Vietnam National Day: Insights from expats
Vietnam’s glorious history and national pride on National Day has captivated international friends in Hanoi.