Vietnam Objects to Unauthorized Chinese Buoy Installation at Spratlys

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected China’s recent installation of light buoys in Vietnamese waters, stating that it violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Spratly Islands.

The Chinese Ministry of Transport announced the installation of at least three new light buoys in the South China Sea near the Irving Reef, Whitsun Reef, and Gaven Reef, all of which are located within Vietnam’s territorial waters.

The Chinese ministry claimed that the installation was for the safety of maritime activities, but Vietnam has requested relevant parties to respect its sovereignty, international law, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Vietnam has the legal basis to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands, according to international law. The South China Sea is referred to as the East Sea in Vietnam.