Vietnam speaks out about the Australian surveillance plane being blocked by China in the East Sea

“Vietnam believes that the activities of all countries should be consistent with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization, not participating increasing tensions in the region, making practical contributions to maintaining peace, stability, security, order, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stated that when asked to comment on the information that the Australian plane was harassed by Chinese fighters in the airspace of the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam.

Ms. Hang also affirmed that Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence for its sovereignty over the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos in accordance with international law.

On June 5, the Australian Department of Defense said that a Chinese fighter took action to block the dangerous path of the country’s reconnaissance aircraft in May.

According to the ministry, the incident happened an Australian Air Force P-8 on a “routine maritime surveillance” mission in international airspace over the South China Sea on May 26. Canberra accused the Chinese J-16 fighter jet dangerously blocking the path of the P-8, posing a threat to the Australian aircraft and its crew.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had expressed concerns to the Chinese side “through the appropriate channels”.

Regarding the incident, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Khac Phi said that an Australian P-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft had come close to what China claimed was its “airspace” unilaterally claimed by it. East Sea.

He accused the Australian plane of threatening China’s security and sovereignty and that the Canberra government was spreading “false information”.