Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidences to assert its sovereignty over the Paracels and Spratlys. Any acts carried out in the area by the parties concerned without Vietnam’s agreement are deemed to violate Vietnam’s sovereignty and are, therefore, legally invalid.

President Arroyo Gloria’s signing of the Philippine Baseline Act on 10 March 2009, which includes the Spratlys under Vietnam’s sovereignty into the Philippines’ territory has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Spratlys, further aggravated the situation, has not conformed to the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea and gone against the trend of cooperation in the region.

Vietnam protests this move and appeals to the Philippines to exercise self-restraint and refrain from any acts of similar nature, which may be harmful to peace and stability in the region and the existing fine relations between the two countries.