Vietnam’s stance on oil and gas cooperation in East Sea

At the Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on November 22, the official underscored that oil and gas cooperation between the Philippines and China in the East Sea can only be carried out in waters that both sides hold sovereignty and sovereignty rights over, in conformity with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

Her statement was made in reply to reporters’ queries about the matter while emphasizing that Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea issue, including sovereignty, sovereignty rights, and legitimate rights at sea, is clear and consistent, and has been declared many times. 

As a responsible member of the international community and an East Sea bordering country, Vietnam has high regard for international cooperation, including cooperation at sea on the basis of respect for the sovereignty and legitimate rights of parties concerned in line with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, for the sake of peace, stability, and development in the region, as well as for the friendship and collaboration amongst surrounding countries.

Also at the press conference, the vice spokesperson voiced Vietnam’s strong objection to Chinese Taiwan’s live-fire drills in the territorial waters surrounding Ba Binh (Itu Aba) Island, which belongs to Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

“Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence proving its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos in line with international law. Taiwan’s continued live-fire drills in the sea area surrounding Ba Binh Island of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago have seriously violated Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over this archipelago, threatening peace, stability, safety, and security of navigation, causing tensions and complicating the situation in the East Sea,” she said.

“Once again, Vietnam resolutely objects and requests Taiwan not to repeat similar actions in the future,” Tra added.