Vietnam has sovereignty over Paracel Islands: foreign ministry

“Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands has been established at least since the 17th century, in accordance with international law,” spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said, adding that Vietnam’s administration has over time established this peacefully, consistently and openly.

Vietnam has multiple times affirmed that it has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and the (Truong Sa) Spratly islands. Any violent acts or threats of violence in international relations, especially using violence to handle conflicts over territorial sovereignty, go against the fundamental principles of the U.N. Charter and severely violate international law, Hang added.

“Such acts cannot result in sovereignty, and cannot change the fact that sovereignty over the Paracel Islands belongs to Vietnam.”

Hang was responding to inquiries about Vietnam’s opinion on China illegally occupying the Paracel Islands since 1974.