Report Vietnam Stands Firm on East Sea Rights Amid Chinese Survey

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of VN Express

 

Vietnam is steadfastly upholding its rights in the East Sea, as Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang addressed concerns on July 3 about Chinese activities in its waters.

 

At a press conference in Hanoi, Pham affirmed that Vietnamese authorities are diligently monitoring developments in the contested region and are committed to safeguarding the country's interests through lawful means. This stance follows reports of a Chinese ship conducting unauthorised surveys within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

 

Under international maritime laws, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Vietnam's EEZ and continental shelf are established territories. Pham underscored that any research or survey operations by foreign powers in these areas without Vietnam's consent are breaches of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

 

This incident has once again brought the spotlight on the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, known in Vietnam as the East Sea—a strategic and economically significant maritime route. The waters are rich in resources and see some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

 

Vietnam's response is part of a broader strategy to resolve disputes in adherence to international law. The government remains resolute in employing diplomatic, legal, and strategic measures to assert its maritime rights and respond appropriately to any infringements.

 

Relations between Vietnam and China have often been tested over maritime boundaries, with both nations asserting historic claims over the seas. However, Vietnam has consistently called for peaceful negotiations and solutions based on legal frameworks rather than force or coercion.

 

The financial implications of these maritime activities are considerable, as the region holds vast potential for fishing and undersea resources, a fact undoubtedly significant to the Vietnamese economy. Any disruption in this region could impact trade, valued in trillions of Thai Baht.

 

Tensions in the East Sea remain a crucial concern not only for Vietnam but also for its ASEAN neighbours and other global powers interested in maintaining freedom of navigation and regional stability.

 

Pham’s comments underline Vietnam’s rejection of unlawful activities and reiterate its commitment to international cooperation and peaceful resolution, urging all parties involved to respect established conventions and work towards mutual understanding.

 

As the situation develops, the international community will be watching closely, hoping for a stabilising resolution in this usually contentious maritime environment.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-04

 

 

[mfd101]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, known in Vietnam as the East Sea

Notice how names are important.

 

I guess in the Philippines it's called the West Sea, and in Indonesia the North Sea ...

[ignore it]

Makes me so mad I want to go and pee in  China's South China Sea !!

[MarkBR]

They should board & arrest any chinese vessel doing unauthorised activities in Vietnamese sovereign waters

[Srikcir]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pham underscored that any research or survey operations by foreign powers in these areas without Vietnam's consent are breaches of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

Incorrect with regard to breach of sovereign rights and jurisdiction beyond 12 nautical miles from the baseline, wherein the coastal state has absolute sovereignty. 

24 nautical miles from the baseline, the coastal state has limited sovereignty to enforce laws related to customs, taxation, immigration, and sanitation, according to the International Maritime Organization. But not outright blanket sovereignty, ie., prevent foreign intrusion.

200 nautical miles from the baseline, where the coastal state has sovereign rights only over natural resources (e.g., fishing, oil, gas). But cannot deny freedom of travel to the extent of conducting survey lines of sight; however, a survey of seabed and/or beneath seabed for potential resource extraction would not be (I believe) considered legal freedom of travel. 

(1 nautical mile = 1.852 Km = 1.15 miles)