(Hanoi, 5th) Vietnam has formally protested against the activities of China and the Philippines at Sandy Cay in the Spratly Islands, which have contested sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, stating that both countries have violated Vietnamese sovereignty. This move highlights the escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
According to the Vietnamese government website, on Saturday, May 3rd, Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang issued a statement saying that diplomatic notes have been sent to both China and the Philippines, urging them to respect Vietnam's sovereignty and comply with international law.
China, the Philippines, and Vietnam are all claimants of sovereignty in the South China Sea. Hanoi claims sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (referred to as Nansha Islands by China), and Sandy Cay is considered part of the Spratly Islands, and thus part of Vietnamese territory.
Pham Thu Hang stated that deploying personnel to Vietnamese reefs without the permission of the Vietnamese government infringes on Vietnamese sovereignty and violates the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," as well as ongoing efforts by various countries to agree on a "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea."
Sandy Cay is located near Thitu Island (referred to as Zhongye Island by China), which is actually controlled by the Philippines. Thitu Island is geographically sensitive and strategically valuable, and the Philippines has military facilities there.
For many years, claimants of sovereignty in the South China Sea, including China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, have conflicted over the ownership of islands and sea areas.
On the previous Saturday, April 26th, Chinese state media CCTV reported that in mid-April, Chinese coast guards landed on Sandy Cay to enforce maritime control, exercising sovereign jurisdiction, not only conducting inspections but also video documenting the illegal activities of the Philippine side, and showcasing the Chinese national flag to assert sovereignty.
However, the Philippines insisted that the status of Sandy Cay has not changed and criticized the CCTV report claiming China controlled Sandy Cay as "irresponsible." A few days later, the Philippine Coast Guard released a photo showing that on April 27th, the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and National Police Maritime Group conducted a joint operation, landed on Sandy Cay, and displayed the Philippine national flag to assert sovereignty over Sandy Cay.
According to the Vietnamese government website, on Saturday, May 3rd, Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang issued a statement saying that diplomatic notes have been sent to both China and the Philippines, urging them to respect Vietnam's sovereignty and comply with international law.
China, the Philippines, and Vietnam are all claimants of sovereignty in the South China Sea. Hanoi claims sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (referred to as Nansha Islands by China), and Sandy Cay is considered part of the Spratly Islands, and thus part of Vietnamese territory.
Pham Thu Hang stated that deploying personnel to Vietnamese reefs without the permission of the Vietnamese government infringes on Vietnamese sovereignty and violates the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," as well as ongoing efforts by various countries to agree on a "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea."
Sandy Cay is located near Thitu Island (referred to as Zhongye Island by China), which is actually controlled by the Philippines. Thitu Island is geographically sensitive and strategically valuable, and the Philippines has military facilities there.
For many years, claimants of sovereignty in the South China Sea, including China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, have conflicted over the ownership of islands and sea areas.
On the previous Saturday, April 26th, Chinese state media CCTV reported that in mid-April, Chinese coast guards landed on Sandy Cay to enforce maritime control, exercising sovereign jurisdiction, not only conducting inspections but also video documenting the illegal activities of the Philippine side, and showcasing the Chinese national flag to assert sovereignty.
However, the Philippines insisted that the status of Sandy Cay has not changed and criticized the CCTV report claiming China controlled Sandy Cay as "irresponsible." A few days later, the Philippine Coast Guard released a photo showing that on April 27th, the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and National Police Maritime Group conducted a joint operation, landed on Sandy Cay, and displayed the Philippine national flag to assert sovereignty over Sandy Cay.