I. ANNOUNCEMENT

1. The Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son will pay an official visit to Mexico for  the 5th Political Consultation in Mexico City from 17 - to 18 September, followed by an official visit to Cuba for the 5th Political Consultation in Havana from 19 –to 21 September. The Vietnamese delegation will also meet with a number of yy leadeseveral other rsMexican and Cuban authorities during the visits.

2. From 16 - to 19 September 2019, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dzung will lead the Vietnamese delegation attending the ASEAN Joint Consultative Meeting (JCM) and the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in preparation for the upcoming 35th ASEAN Summit and its related meetings. This is also an occasion to drive forward consultations within ASEAN and with its partners regarding the areas of preparation for Viet Nam's 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship.

II. Q&A

1. The recent Committee to Protect Journalists' (CPJ) report listed Viet Nam among the world's top 10 censored countries, what is your comment on this?

We hereby express our complete rejection of such false claims in the aforementioned report, seeing that they are based on counterfactual and unobjective information regarding the situationtate of matters in Viet Nam. In our country, the freedom of speech and freedom of the press are enshrined in the 2013 Constitution and various relevant legal documents.

Viet Nam is making every effort to improve its legal system to ensure the freedom of speech in the press, cyberspace and other channels. The aim is to protect our citizens against fake news, information contrary to the Vietnamese cultural values, libel, falsehood or hate speech.

2. Please provide update on the situation of the Haiyang Dizhi 8 in Viet nNam’s ese exclusive economic zone, and Viet Nam's measures to address this situation.

Viet Nam resolutely objects the continuing serious violations by the Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8 and its escort vessels of Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in Viet Nam’s maritime zones as established according to relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). Viet Nam also reiterates its position with regard to the negative effects of the violations by Haiyang Dizhi 8 and its escort vessels on the friendly relations between the two countries, and peace, security and stability in the East Sea (South China Sea) and the region. For these reasons, Viet Nam demands that China immediately cease its serious violations and withdraw all aforementioned vessels from Viet Nam’s maritime zones.

Regarding the recent statement by China concerning Viet Nam’s economic activities in the latter’s maritime zones, Viet Nam affirms its consistent position that all of Viet Nam’s maritime economic activities, including its oil and gas activities, are conducted entirely within Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf areas generated from its mainland in accordance with UNCLOS 1982 to which both Viet Nam and China are states parties. UNCLOS 1982 clearly defines the scope of and provides the sole legal basis for maritime entitlements of the coastal states. This is widely respected by states, confirmed in the relevant case law and endorsed by highly qualified international lawyers. It follows that states cannot make maritime claims in the East Sea that exceed the geographical and substantive limits as defined under UNCLOS 1982. Unlawful maritime claims which contravene UNCLOS 1982 cannot constitute a basis for asserting the existence of disputed or overlapping maritime areas. Disruptive activities in relation to Viet Nam's oil and gas activities within Viet Nam’s maritime zones constitute violations of international law and UNCLOS 1982.

Viet Nam, on this occasion, reaffirms its position regarding its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands.

3. There are rumours on the internet that Exxon Mobil is withdrawing from the Ca Voi Xanh (Blue Whale) project? What are your comments on this matter?

According to PetroVietnam (PVN), oil and gas projects in Central Viet Nam, including offshore and on-shore projects, are being implemented as planned by the consortium of PVN, PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP) and Exxon Mobil.

4. What are your comments regarding the current situation in Hong Kong?

Viet Nam respects the policy of “one country, two systems” and relevant regulations oin Hong Kong. It is our hope that the situation here would soon return to its normal state, and that it would maintain stability and and prosperity as a vital commercial and financial hub in the region and the world.

We hope that economic, commercial and tourism exchanges between Viet Nam and Hong Kong would continue to advance. We call upon the government of the Hong Kong SAR to ensure the safety and security for Vietnamese nationals traveling, living and working in Hong Kong.

5. Since ASEAN countries, including Viet Nam, enjoy close economic and trade ties with Hong Kong, what are your comments on the impact of the current situation in Hong Kong on the cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN countries?

Viet Nam in particular and ASEAN as a whole enjoy good relations with Hong Kong in various areas, including economic, trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Viet Nam shall join hands with ASEAN countries to advance this good relationship.

6. It has been reported that the UK Defense Ministry is planning to deploy the fleet carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Asia – Pacific in 2021. This would be the aircraft carrier’s maiden voyage to international waters and part of the UK’s efforts to ensure the freedom of navigation in the context of China’s growing ambition in the East Sea. The UK, Germany and France have also raised their voices regarding the unilateral actions being taken in the East Sea. What is Viet Nam’s view on this?

Viet Nam’s stance on the freedom of navigation in and overflight above waters is consistent and clear-cut, as has been stated many times: All activities at sea must comply with international law, enshrined in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The fact that many countries, organizations, press agencies and individuals have been expressing their positions regarding the serious developments taking place in the East Sea reflects the attention and concerns of the international community over the unilateral actions that escalated tensions inand seriously violatedion of international law, including the and UNCLOS 1982, and that threatened the peace, stability, security and stable development in the region.

The East Sea carries vital significance to countries within and beyond the region: particularly in the areas of commerce, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight. The maintenance of the peace, stability, security, the rules-based order, the rule of law and the respect for the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the littoral states in the East Sea as established under the UNCLOS 1982 is a common goal, interest, responsibility and desire shared by all countries and the international community at large.

Viet Nam welcomes and stands ready to join hands with other countries and the international community to contribute to this goal, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

7. Foreign news agencies recently claim that the General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong will pay an official visit to the United States in October. Can you confirm this?

The diplomatic activities undertaken by the Vietnamese high-level leaders shall be announced at an appropriate timing.

8. Regarding the incident in which a Vietnamese intern has been suspected alleged of attempted murder of two Japanese elders in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan in August. Please provide us with updated information and your comment on this?

According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the police authority of Shimotsuma, Ibaraki prefecture is holding in detention a Vietnamese citizen named Nguyen Dinh Hai on allegation sof attempted murder and causing serious injury. This Vietnamese citizen has received access to defensecounsel.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan paid a consular visit to the citizen Nguyen Dinh Hai. The Embassy will continue to monitor the case and working closely with the Japanese competent authorities to provide necessary citizen protection measures in accordance with the Vietnamese and Japanese laws. Japanese competent authorities are continuing to investigate the case.

9. China’s media reported that they are building a network of UAVs to enforce surveillance and transfer information from the illegally built-up land features islands in the East Sea. What are your comments on this matter?

As we have stated on numerous occasions, Viet Nam possesses full legal grounds and historical evidence to assert sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in accordance with international law. All foreign activities in these two archipelagos undertaken without prior permission from Viet Nam are illegal and invalid.

10. We have received information that the Chinese crane vessel Lan Jing has moved into the Vietnamese waters, just 90 kilometers off Quang Ngai’s coastline on 03 September. What are your comment on this matter?

According to the  competent authorities, from 03 to 04 September, the crane vessel Lan Jing passed  through the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The activities of this vessel were kept under constant monitoring by the Vietnamese competent forces, pursuant to international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982./.