Vietnam has recently announced that they will be opposing China’s new fishing ban which claims to be protecting the environment of disputed regions in the South China Sea. Vietnam’s challenge to this ban adds to the already existing tension between the two countries over territorial rights in the region. In this article, we will explore Vietnam’s reasons for opposing China’s fishing ban and what this could mean for the future of the South China Sea dispute.
Vietnam has condemned China’s unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea, calling it a violation of its sovereignty. China has imposed a yearly fishing ban on certain sea regions, including the Paracel Islands, which Vietnam claims as its own. The ban takes effect on May 1 and lasts until August 18.
Vietnam has called the South China Sea the East Sea and says the ban violates its sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and its jurisdiction rights over its sea regions, as determined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The UNCLOS is an international treaty that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world’s oceans.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ deputy spokesman, Doan Khac Viet, said at a press meet that Vietnam calls on China to respect its sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and its jurisdiction rights over its sea regions. He also called for China to avoid complicating the situation and contribute to peace and stability in the East Sea.
The Paracel Islands are a group of islands in the South China Sea that have been under Chinese control since 1974, despite Vietnam’s claims to the territory. China has been accused of building military installations on the islands and expanding its influence in the region.
Vietnam has been embroiled in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea for decades, with Vietnam accusing China of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The disputes stem from overlapping claims to islands and waters in the region, with China claiming historic rights to nearly the entire sea, while Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also claim parts of it.
In recent years, tensions in the South China Sea have escalated, with China building artificial islands and military installations in the region, increasing patrols and military exercises, and asserting its dominance over the disputed territories. The United States has also been involved in the disputes, conducting freedom of navigation operations in the area to challenge China’s claims to sovereignty.
The South China Sea is a crucial shipping lane, through which trillions of dollars’ worth of trade passes each year. It is also rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, and fish stocks, making it a highly contested area.
China’s fishing ban has been criticized by other countries in the region, including the Philippines and Malaysia, who also claim parts of the South China Sea. The ban has been seen as an attempt by China to further assert its dominance in the region and control access to its resources.
Vietnam has called for peaceful resolution to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea and urged all parties to respect international law, including UNCLOS. Vietnam has also sought to strengthen its ties with other countries, including the United States, Japan, and India, to balance China’s increasing influence in the region.
