Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago is an integral territory of Vietnam andits waters have long been the traditional fishing grounds of Vietnamesefishermen, affirmed Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh.

Answering reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s responseto China’s unilateral ban on fishing in the East Sea at a regular pressconference on May 21, Binh said that Vietnam will intensify managementand closely monitor Vietnamese fishermen’s fishing activities in thewaters of Vietnam in order to timely address arising incidents.

Mentioningto China’s large-scale construction on reef islands altering the statusquo and violating Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly)archipelago, the spokesman confirmed that Vietnam has full legalfoundations and historical evidence proving its sovereignty on Hoang Saand Truong Sa archipelagoes.

All actions of parties at the area without Vietnam’s agreement are illegal and void, he added.

Vietnamesefunctional agencies are keeping an eye on operations in the East Sea,including the operation and position of China’s drilling rig HaiyangShiyou-981.

Regarding CNN’s launch of a videocapturing Chinese naval ships chasing US aircraft flying above theinternational waters of the East Sea, Binh said that maintaining peace,stability, aviation and maritime security and safety in the East Sea,which forms an important international maritime route and aviationcorridor, is the common interest and aspiration of nations inside andoutside the region.

Vietnam calls on countriesconcerned to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, aviation andmaritime security and safety in the East Sea in a responsible and activemanner, while respecting the sovereignty, sovereign right andjurisdiction of coastal nations on the basis of international law, the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and avoidingcomplicating the situation, he stated.-VNA