Viet Nam demands China immediately free illegally captured fishermen

Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet made the above statement at a press briefing in Ha Noi on Thursday.

Viet Nam also demands China compensate for the damages and stop illegal capture of Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen at the Paracel Archipelago, said Doan.

He said Chinese authorities, including its coast guards, have illegally captured Vietnamese fishermen and vessels in the waters of the Paracel Archipelago is a serious violation of Viet Nam's sovereignty over the archipelago, as well as the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese fishermen.

The Paracel Archipelago is fully under the sovereignty of Viet Nam, said the Deputy Spokesperson, affirming Viet Nam has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Archipelago and its surrounding waters.

Regarding the information saying China is deploying military equipment to Tri Ton Island of Viet Nam's Paracel Archiplelago, Doan affirmed Viet Nam is greatly concerned about this information and strongly opposes all activities that infringe upon Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Paracel Archiplelago.

Viet Nam would resolutely protect its sovereignty through peaceful measures in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, affirmed the Deputy Spokesman.

The Paracel Archiplelago has been illegally occupied by China since 1974./.