US Defence Secretary protests provocative acts in East Sea
US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper on August 26 warned that China’s plan to modernise military forces will embolden its provocative behaviours in the South China Sea, which is called the East Sea in Vietnam, and the East China Sea.
Hanoi (VNA) – US Secre🍰tary of DefenceMark Esper on August 26 warned that China’s plan to modernise military forceswill embolden its provocative behaviours in the South China Sea, which iscalled the East Sea in Vietnam, and the East China Sea.
In a keynote speech at an event in Hawaii,Esper said China has fallen short of its promises to abide by internationallaws, rules or norms or honour the commitments it made to the internationalcommunity, including not to militarise features in the East Sea. China’s organisation of consecutivemilitary exercises in the waters to the north-northeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa(Paracel) archipelago has violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago,said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on August 26. Responding to reporters’ query, thespokesperson made it clear that China’s act runs counter to the spirit of theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and complicates thesituation, which is unfavourable for the current negotiations between China andthe ASEAN on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) and themaintenance of a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the East Sea. “Vietnam demands that China respectVietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, stop and not repeat suchviolations,” Hang said./.
China’s organisation of consecutive military exercises in the waters to the north-northeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago has violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on August 26.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced on August 26 that it added 24 Chinese companies to the Entity List for their involvement in the illegal construction of artificial islands in the East Sea.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on August 27 the country strongly opposed any behaviour that would increase tensions in the East Sea.
Any activities in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago without the country’s permission are meaningless, spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang said on August 27.
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US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper (Photo: AFP) 
