Vietnam rebukes China, Philippines over South China Sea conduct
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The Philippines was rebuked by Vietnam for placing navigational buoys in disputed waters around the Spratly archipelago.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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HANOI – Vietnam criticised on Thursday the recent conduct in the South China Sea of a Chinese research ship and the Philippine Coast Guard, accusing its neighbours of separate actions that it said were violating its sovereign rights.
Tensions are currently high in contested parts of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most important trade routes and a conduit for more than US$3 trillion (S$4 trillion) of annual ship-borne commerce.
Chinese and Vietnamese vessels confronted each other in recent days on multiple occasions, as a Chinese research ship moved within Hanoi’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for what experts said was likely a survey.
Such a survey would usually be considered hostile if conducted without notification.
Asked for comment, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Pham Thu Hang told reporters those vessels were “violating the sovereign rights and jurisdictions of Vietnam”, which was taking “appropriate measures” to defend its rights.
China said scientific research was a normal activity in areas under Chinese jurisdiction.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, based on what Beijing says are old maps, including waters that lie within the EEZs of Vietnam and those of four other South-east Asian countries.
The Philippines was also rebuked for placing navigational buoys in five areas of its EEZ to assert sovereignty over the hotly disputed Spratly Islands,
Asked about the Philippines’ move, Ms Hang said: “Vietnam strongly opposes all acts violating Vietnam’s sovereign rights.” REUTERS
