Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh made the affirmation in response to the China Maritime Safety Administration’s May 27 announcement that the rig had been moved from 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude to 15 degrees 33 minutes 38 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 62 seconds east longitude.
“Vietnam resolutely opposes and requests China to immediately halt the rig’s operation, withdraw it as well as escort and service ships from Vietnamese waters and not to repeat such actions,” he said.
Answering questions on the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s statement on May 26, Binh confirmed that Vietnam resolutely rejects this untruthful statement.
“Vietnam has full legal foundations and historical evidence to assert its undeniable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago,” he said.
China used force to occupy Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago and its actions violated international laws, he said, adding that occupation by force cannot give China’s sovereignty over this archipelago.
