Vietnam rejects any maritime claims of China that are based on the so-called “nine-dash line” in the South China Sea, which is known as the East Sea in Vietnam, Spokeswoman of Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang has stated.

Spokeswoman of Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang

Hang made the statement on March 20 in response to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s reaction to the publication of images of Chinese map with the “nine-dash line” by some social networking accounts registered as Chinese overseas representative missions.

“Vietnam’s position on the East Sea issue is clear and consistent. Vietnam has ample legal grounds and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands and has sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction over maritime zones in the East Sea as established in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea. Accordingly, Vietnam rejects any maritime claims of China based on the so-called “nine-dash line” in the East Sea,” writes the statement.