PHL welcomes Vietnamese position on South China Sea arbitration

Vietnam's position on claims in the South China Sea, which it manifested in its submission to the arbitration tribunal in The Hague where the Philippine government is challenging China’s claims, was welcomed by the Philippine government as it was largely in accord with its position.

 

“As such, the Vietnamese position is helpful in terms of promoting the rule of law and in finding peaceful and nonviolent solutions to the South China Sea claims,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

 

The DFA added that Vietnam's stand promoted peace and stability in the region.

 

Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Le Hai Binh said his country had requested the tribunal to pay due attention to Vietnam's interests as it handled the arbitration between the Philippines and China.

 

“To protect its legal rights and interests in the East Sea which may be affected in the South China Sea Arbitration case, Viet Nam has expressed its position to the Tribunal regarding this case, and requested the Tribunal to pay due attention to the legal rights and interests of Viet Nam," the spokesman said.

 

China, which has repeatedly said that it would not join the legal proceedings in the Hague, has denounced Vietnam’s action.

 

Both the Philippines and Vietnam, two South China Sea claimants that had the most number of confrontations with China, have accused China of intruding in their sovereign waters and harassing their fishermen and disrupting oil exploration in their respective territories. — DVM/JDS, GMA News