ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT BY MR. LE DZUNG, THE SPOKESMAN

OF THE VIETNAMESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON 17th FEBRUARY 2005

Question: Please provide Vietnam's reaction to Xinhua news that China has launched a large-scale research on the coral reefs of the Hoang Sa archipelagoes?

Answer:

Vietnam's position on the Paracel (Hoang Sa) and Spratly (Truong Sa) archipelagoes has been clearly stated many times. Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation to affirm its indisputable sovereignty over the Paracel (Hoang Sa) and Spratly (Trưong Sa) archipelagoes.

Any act taken by another country at these two archipelagoes without Vietnam's approval is a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty and sovereign rights to these areas.

Vietnam has sufficient evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly