The act of allowing individuals onto features belonging to Vietnam’s sovereignty without the country's permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty, complicates the situation, and runs counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as ongoing efforts of nations in negotiating a Code of Conduct (COC) for the waters.

Developing relations with China is a consistent policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Chinese Premier Li Qiang at their talks in Kunming city in China’s Yunnan province on November 7.

Vietnam's permanent missions to the United Nations (UN) in New York and Geneva have recently sent diplomatic notes to the UN and countries informing the candidacy of Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thao to the International Law Commission (ILC) for the 2023-2027 tenure, marking the official start of the Vietnamese candidate's campaign for re-election to the UN’s important body.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang highlighted Vietnam’s viewpoint that all activities in its Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos without permission of the country are void and not conducive to peace, security and stability in the East Sea, and that Vietnam resolutely protests those.

Diplomatic notes were sealed in Hanoi on January 15, concerning the first batch of Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) worth more than 95 billion JPY for Vietnam in fiscal 2015.