About the approval, on 17 February 2009, by the Congress of the Philippines of the Bill on the baseline, according to which some islands of Spratley archipelago and Scarborough Shoal are managed under the “regime of islands” of the Philippines, on 19 February 2009 the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Le Dzung, states:

“Vietnam possesses sufficient historical evidence and legal foundations to assert its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

All activities in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos undertaken by foreign parties without consent of Vietnam are in violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty and null and void.

We are of the view that while seeking a fundamental and long-term solution to the disputes over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, the parties concerned should observe the international laws, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the DOC and refrain from taking actions to complicate the situation, contributing to maintaining peace and stability in Eastern Sea and region.”