Vietnam Concerned About Surging Tensions in South China Sea, Reaches Out to Manila for Talks

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Phạm Thu Hằng addressing the media at the regular press briefing in Hanoi on June 21, 2024. Image via Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Vietnamese government called for restraint from China and the Philippines following last week’s violent confrontation in the South China Sea. “Vietnam is closely monitoring and deeply concerned about the incident on June 17,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phạm Thu Hằng said on Friday.

In remarks that seemingly aligned Hanoi’s position with that of Manila’s, Hằng added that all sides in this conflict should “act appropriately in accordance with international law, respect sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of coastal countries,”

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by Eric Olander

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