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.

Pham Thu Hang, Deputy Director of the Press Information Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Spokesperson of the ministry, has been appointed Acting Director of the department and Spokesperson of the ministry.