(MOFA) - On 6 August 2020, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to queries about Viet Nam’s reaction to China’s inclusion of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands of Viet Nam in the 2020 technical rules for the statutory testing of seagoing vessels on domestic voyages, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stated:

China’s inclusion of the Hoang Sa Islands of Viet Nam in the 2020 technical rules for the statutory testing of seagoing vessels on domestic voyages has violated Viet Nam's sovereignty over the islands, which is not conducive to the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea (South China Sea).

It is Viet Nam’s consistent position that activities conducted on the Hoang Sa Islands without Viet Nam’s permission constitute violations of Viet Nam’s sovereignty and have no validity.