Vietnam Objects to Taiwan Military Activity on Spratlys

Text of report in English by Vietnamese news agency VNA website

Hanoi (VNA) -Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation to assert its sovereignty over both the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, said Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung on January 24.

The spokesman made the statement in response to a query by Japan’s NHK reporter about Vietnam’s reaction to the report that Taiwan test ran a military C-130 plane on a newly-built runway in a Truong Sa island on January 21.

“Vietnam resolutely opposes all activities violating the sovereignty of Vietnam over these archipelagoes. All activities conducted on Truong Sa and Hoang Sa without Vietnam’s permission infringe the country’s sovereignty and are illegal,” the spokesman said.

He went on to request Taiwan to stop the act immediately and refrain from conducting violations in the area.

Originally published by VNA news agency website, Hanoi, in English 24 Jan 08.

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