Vietnam urges countries to respect its sovereignty over Hoang Sa

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged countries to respect Vietnam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa, commenting on the activities of a Dutch warship near the archipelago.

At a regular press conference on 4/6, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang was asked to comment on recent statements by China and the Netherlands. These statements concerned the activities of the Dutch frigate De Ruyter near Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense stated that the frigate HNLMS De Ruyter conducted a voyage through the South China Sea on 27/5. Its mission was to carry out diplomatic, security, and economic tasks in accordance with international law.

The Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter. *Photo: Dutch Ministry of Defense*.

Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese military, stated that air and sea forces were deployed to "expel" the Dutch frigate near the Hoang Sa archipelago.

"As has been repeatedly affirmed, Vietnam possesses historical evidence and legal basis to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago in accordance with international law. Vietnam urges other countries to respect this reality", Ms. Hang said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang at today's press conference. *Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs*.

As a state party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and a coastal state of the South China Sea, Vietnam consistently respects the freedom of navigation and overflight for all nations in the South China Sea. This is in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS, Ms. Hang added.

The Hoang Sa archipelago, located in the South China Sea, comprises more than 30 islands, coral reefs, sandbanks, and submerged rocks. Vietnam has repeatedly stated it possesses legal basis and historical evidence to assert sovereignty over both the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.