Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet stated: "The Hoang Sa archipelago belongs to Vietnam's sovereignty. This stance has been consistently affirmed by Vietnam many times.

The Chinese Coast Guard's illegal arrest of Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen in the Hoang Sa archipelago is a serious violation of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, violating the legal and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese fishermen.

Vietnam resolutely protests and demands that China fully respect Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, immediately release all illegally detained Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen, adequately compensate for damages, and stop and not repeat acts of harassment and illegal detention of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen in Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago."

Regarding the information that China is installing a radar system on Tri Ton Island in Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed: "Vietnam is extremely concerned about this information. Vietnam strongly opposes all acts of violating Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago. Vietnam is determined to protect Vietnam's sovereignty by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."