Remarks by MOFA Spokesperson Le Hai Binh on the South China Sea Arbitration case

(MOFA) - On 11 December 2014, in response to the questions of a reporter from Viet Nam News Agency and other news agencies and press regarding Viet Nam’s response to the Position Paper of the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Matter of Jurisdiction in the South China Sea Arbitration, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Le Hai Binh stated that:

“Once again, Viet Nam reiterates that Viet Nam has full historical evidence and legal foundation to reaffirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, as well as other legal rights and interests of Viet Nam in the East Sea (Biển Đông).
It is Vietnam’s consistent position to  fully reject China’s claim over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes and the adjacent waters, as well as China’s claiming  of ‘historic rights’ to the waters, sea-bed and subsoil within the “dotted line” unilaterally stated by China.”

In response to the question on Viet Nam’s position regarding the South China Sea Arbitration case, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Le Hai Binh affirmed that:
“To protect its legal rights and interests in the East Sea which may be affected in the South China Sea Arbitration case, Viet Nam has expressed its position to the Tribunal regarding this case, and requested the Tribunal to pay due attention to the legal rights and interests of Viet Nam.”/.