Vietnam expressed extreme concern over China's issuance of e-passports to its citizens with a map of China including the disputed Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi, in a press conference in Ha Noi yesterday said the act clearly violates Vietnam's sovereignty and jurisdiction over these waters in the East Sea.
Nghi also soid all of the member countries claiming sovereignty in the East Sea will meet to discuss the issue in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, on December 12.
Nghi said that the Philippines informed Vietnam about the meeting, and the ministry was awaiting an official invitation which would state the manner and time of the event, and its agenda in more detail.
He stressed that despite this additional round of discussions, consultation between Asean countries on this issue was a normal and regular occurrence as the bloc aimed to promote and maintain peace, stability, maritime security and safety in the East Sea.
The aim was to push for a peaceful settlement to the disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos 1982) and existing agreements and commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the East Sea (DOC), the Asean Declaration on Six-Point Principles and the latest Joint Statement of the 15th Asean-China Summit on the 10th anniversary of DOC.
Representatives from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry met with Chinese Embassy staff in Hanoi to hand over a diplomatic note protesting the action and requesting China to annul the contents printed in the e-passport, he added.
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