On the afternoon of October 31, answering questions from international reporters about China deploying military equipment on Tri Ton Island, part of Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet said that Vietnam strongly opposes all activities that violate its sovereignty and will resolutely protect its sovereignty by peaceful means, in accordance with international law.

"Vietnam is extremely concerned about this information and strongly protests all activities that violate Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago. Vietnam will resolutely protect its sovereignty by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the United Nations Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," said Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet.

Regarding the information about the arrest of Vietnamese fishermen, Deputy Spokesperson Doan Khac Viet reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent stance and viewpoint.

"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 rights and legitimate 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.