25-5-2023 (Hanoi) Vietnam has accused a Chinese survey vessel and its escorts of violating its sovereignty and demanded that Beijing remove the ships from its waters, according to a statement by the country’s foreign ministry on Thursday.
Vietnam and China have long been engaged in a territorial dispute over a potentially energy-rich stretch in the South China Sea, a crucial waterway through which over US$3 trillion of commerce passes annually.
“Vietnam demands that China immediately remove the survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10, Chinese coast guard ships, and fishing vessels out of Vietnam’s waters,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang in a government statement. “Vietnam has made contact with China several times and implemented measures in accordance with international law and Vietnamese law to ensure lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam.”
The Chinese embassy in Hanoi has not yet responded to the statement or provided a comment.
