The Vietnamese Government on Friday rejected a recent Chinese fishing ban imposed on waters in the South China Sea and called on China to exercise restraint in one of the world’s busiest and congested waterways.
Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the disclosure in a statement.
“In the current international and regional context, Vietnam asks the Chinese side not to complicate the situation in the South China Sea,’’ Le said.
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The state-run Xinhua news agency reported that China recently announced a ban on fishing in the disputed South China Sea between May 1 and Aug. 16, citing conservation concerns.
The Vietnamese Government’s statement came after the Vietnam Fisheries Society asked it to take a tough line against China’s action.
“The action impedes on Vietnam’s sovereignty, including over the Paracel Islands, and violates international law,’’ it said.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea as its territory, including waters and islands, claimed by Vietnam and other nations.
The Paracel Islands are claimed by Vietnam but were occupied by China in the aftermath of a 1974 invasion that killed dozens of Vietnamese.