China's move to include part of the Hoang Sa archipelago in its military exercise area in the East Sea has seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty over the archipelago.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang chaired the August 2023 press conference.
On the afternoon of August 3, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to a reporter's question asking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide Vietnam's response to the announcement by Chinese authorities on July 28 that the country would conduct a military training exercise in the East Sea from July 29 to August 2, the announced exercise area covering part of Hoang Sa under Vietnam's sovereignty, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said:
"China's move to include part of the Hoang Sa archipelago in the military exercise area in the East Sea from July 29 to August 2 has seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty over the archipelago and gone against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and complicated the situation, which is not beneficial to the current negotiation process between China and ASEAN on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC), and the maintenance of a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the East Sea.
Vietnam resolutely protests and demands that China respect Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago and not repeat similar violations."
According to VNA