China recently continued to have various activities in Hoang Sa archipelago of Viet Nam. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) opened bids for 19 blocks in the area north of the East Sea, including block 65/24, which is one nautical mile from Dao Cay (Tree Island) of Hoang Sa archipelago; Chinese naval escort vessel Unit No. 11 conducted live-fire exercise in Hoang Sa archipelago on March 2, 2012; At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 11th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on March 7, 2012, Deputy Director General of China’s National Tourism Administration stated that the National Tourism Administration and Hainan province’s authorities were cooperating to expand tourism in Hoang Sa archipelago; On “Power Forum” of the People’s Daily Online, Deputy Minister of Culture, Director of State Bureau of Cultural Relics said that in the period of 12th Five-Year Plan, China will build an Archaeology Center in the East Sea seabed and “Xisha” (Hoang Sa) working station; Hainan provincial authorities will host Sinan sailing competition on route from Sanya to Hoang Sa archipelago on March 28, 2012…
Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi on March 15 made the following remark concerning the Chinese activities:
“Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes are inseparable parts of Viet Nam’s territory. The Chinese activities constitute serious violations of Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago and of international law, go against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN and China in 2002, run counter to the common understanding of the two countries’ high level leaders and do not serve the development of the friendship and cooperation relations between Viet Nam and China.
Viet Nam asks China to respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty, cease all activities that violate Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago and make substantive contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.”
Source: MOFA