China warns Vietnam over South China Sea islands
3 Jan 2013 7:19 AM IST
Deploying its maritime vessels for patrolling in the disputed South China Sea, China has asked Vietnam not to implement its new maritime law, affirming sovereignty over the contested islands and cautioned Hanoi that the move would escalate bilateral tensions.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunyang in a statement here urged Vietnam to refrain from taking any actions that complicate and escalate issues between the two countries, as the Vietnamese maritime law came into effective from Tuesday.
Hua stressed China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands called by China Xisha and Nansha Islands and Paracel islands by Vietnam.
‘Any claim raised by any other country and any action taken by any other nation to territorial sovereignty over the islands and waters are illegal and invalid,’ Hua said, adding China is deeply concerned about the negative impact of the implementation of the law.
In June, the Vietnam National Assembly passed the ‘Vietnamese Law of the Sea,’ describing the Islands as being within Vietnam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction.
Consequently Vietnam had set up a fishery bureau with powers to maritime patrol, check the ships of other countries and investigate any violations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunyang in a statement here urged Vietnam to refrain from taking any actions that complicate and escalate issues between the two countries, as the Vietnamese maritime law came into effective from Tuesday.
Hua stressed China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands called by China Xisha and Nansha Islands and Paracel islands by Vietnam.
‘Any claim raised by any other country and any action taken by any other nation to territorial sovereignty over the islands and waters are illegal and invalid,’ Hua said, adding China is deeply concerned about the negative impact of the implementation of the law.
In June, the Vietnam National Assembly passed the ‘Vietnamese Law of the Sea,’ describing the Islands as being within Vietnam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction.
Consequently Vietnam had set up a fishery bureau with powers to maritime patrol, check the ships of other countries and investigate any violations.
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