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HANOI, VietnamVietnam has rejected Chinas protest over a new Vietnamese law that reasserts territorial claims over two West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) island groups China and other countries consider their own.
The Chinese accusations that Vietnams law was illegal and invalid were groundless, Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said in a statement posted on the ministrys website late Thursday.
Vietnams National Assembly overwhelmingly passed the new maritime law Thursday asserting Vietnams sovereignty over the Spratlys and Paracels, and Nghi said this was a normal lawmaking activity and Chinese opposition to it was regrettable.
China had summoned the Vietnamese ambassador Thursday to lodge a protest and repeat Chinas position that it has sole jurisdiction over the Spratly and Paracel islands.
China claims virtually the entire West Philippine Sea and its island groups, and its dispute with Vietnam and other rival claimants occasionally erupts into open confrontation. The islands, many of them occupied by garrisons from the various claimants, sit amid some of the worlds busiest commercial sea lanes, along with rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas deposits.
Nghi said Vietnam has legal and historical bases to affirm its sovereignty and that Vietnams new law will not affect the process seeking a solution to the disputes.
Vietnam also strongly protested a step Chinas Hainan province has taken to consolidate its administration over the disputed areas. Chinese officials have said the new entity, Sansha City administration, replaces three separate management offices and is intended to boost development in the Paracels, Spratlys and other areas and better protect Hainans marine environment.
Vietnam and China both claim the Paracels. The two countries along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim all or parts of the Spratlys which sit on one of the worlds busiest commercial sea lanes and potential oil and gas reserves.
Sources: Vietnam rejects Chinese protest over island claims | Inquirer Global Nation
The Chinese accusations that Vietnams law was illegal and invalid were groundless, Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said in a statement posted on the ministrys website late Thursday.
Vietnams National Assembly overwhelmingly passed the new maritime law Thursday asserting Vietnams sovereignty over the Spratlys and Paracels, and Nghi said this was a normal lawmaking activity and Chinese opposition to it was regrettable.
China had summoned the Vietnamese ambassador Thursday to lodge a protest and repeat Chinas position that it has sole jurisdiction over the Spratly and Paracel islands.
China claims virtually the entire West Philippine Sea and its island groups, and its dispute with Vietnam and other rival claimants occasionally erupts into open confrontation. The islands, many of them occupied by garrisons from the various claimants, sit amid some of the worlds busiest commercial sea lanes, along with rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas deposits.
Nghi said Vietnam has legal and historical bases to affirm its sovereignty and that Vietnams new law will not affect the process seeking a solution to the disputes.
Vietnam also strongly protested a step Chinas Hainan province has taken to consolidate its administration over the disputed areas. Chinese officials have said the new entity, Sansha City administration, replaces three separate management offices and is intended to boost development in the Paracels, Spratlys and other areas and better protect Hainans marine environment.
Vietnam and China both claim the Paracels. The two countries along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim all or parts of the Spratlys which sit on one of the worlds busiest commercial sea lanes and potential oil and gas reserves.
Sources: Vietnam rejects Chinese protest over island claims | Inquirer Global Nation