Vietnam on Thursday criticized both China and the Philippines, accusing the two countries of infringing on its sovereign rights following recent actions in the South China Sea, which Hanoi calls the East Sea.
Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Pham Thu Hang was asked by reporters over China’s actions at the Paracel archipelago, which Beijing calls Xisha Islands, as well the installation of navigational buoys by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands or the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.
According to Voice of Vietnam, Hang said Hanoi has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos in accordance with international law.
She said relevant parties should respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, existing international laws, and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties, as well as create a favorable environment for the negotiation of a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
On Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen coordination in dealing with maritime issues, particularly in working on the COC.
Philippine diplomats traveled to Ha Long, Vietnam on Monday and Tuesday to hold talks with their Vietnamese counterparts during the 10th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns.
In a statement, DFA said the two countries also agreed to explore a “broad range of potential maritime cooperation activities to enhance their strategic partnership.”
“The two countries expressed serious concern over unilateral activities that undermine peace and stability in the region. They committed to work together to protect their rights and legitimate interests under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and enhance confidence-building measures between relevant agencies,” the DFA added.